1883-84.] Edinhirgh Naturalists' Field Club. 16 



J 



fail to he struck with the clever manner in which the fine fihres are 

 interlaced round the reeds. I have often thought how extremely 

 difficult it must be for the small bird to form the commencement of 

 such a nest, Avhile every breath of wind must alter the relative posi- 

 tion of the reeds. At Combe there is a large Heronry on an island 

 in the lake, and the bird-life is always interesting to me on the occa- 

 sion of my annual rambles there. 



XL— SOME AMERICAN PLANTS TFORTH NOTICE. 

 By Mr MARK KING. 



{Bead March 27, 1884.) 



The plants of JSTorth America are both numerous and varied in 

 character. They are found on the prairie and the mountain, on the 

 river - bank and the lake - margin, in the wood and the cultivated 

 field. The region embraced in the following brief notes is confined 

 for the most part to the State of Ohio, which contains an area of 

 more than 39,000 square miles, and includes within its range a great 

 variety of soil, climate, and situation. Even in the comparatively 

 limited extent of this one State, it will be evident that the flora must 

 be very abundant, and all that can be done in the short time at our 

 disposal is to select a few plants which are noteworthy either on 

 account of their beauty or utility, showing herbarium specimens of 

 these, and adding a few comments on them. The plants chosen for 

 this purpose are included in the following eleven natural orders, 

 viz. : — 



1. Eanunculacese. — The plants comprised in this large order are 

 mostly natives of cool, damp climates, those of the tropical regions 

 growing only at high elevations. JN'early all the genera possess acrid 

 and narcotic properties, while some of them are highly poisonous. 

 The order is rich in ornamental cultivated plants. The Clematis or 

 Virgin's Bower is a large genus in the American flora, containing no 

 less than fifteen species. It is a plant well known to all in the 

 cultivated form. The twigs are capable of being made into baskets ; 

 and the leaves of certain kinds are employed as an external applica- 

 tion in rheumatism. A section of the wood is a very interesting 

 object under the microscope. Among other fine plants in the order 

 are the tall and showy Delphiniums ; Avhile those harbingers of spring, 

 the Hellebores, Hepaticas, and Anemones, are also included in it. 



2. Magnoliaceae. — This is a small ordei', the IS'orth American rep- 

 resentatives being three genera and fourteen species, including some 



