1903] Sub-Excursions. iii 



Sweet Viburnum was there in berry. Farther on, we found its 

 cousin, the Arrow-wood, with its maple like leaves. 



But the greatest reward of our search was yet to find. It was 

 not the occasional specimens of the Wild Strawberry, which were 

 not preserved for later examination, nor the small prickly fruit of 

 Ribes Cynosbati, which we willingly left to some children to gather, 

 only warning them that the fruit was still green, nor the Hazelnut 

 with its long cylindrical beak. No. The most valued prize 

 gathered that afternoon was a plant ot no known use at all, a 

 leafless parasite. But this plant was rare. It was unknown to 

 all of us. It had a single flower on its naked scape ; but it was a 

 pretty flower, of pale purple colour with some yellow marking in the 

 throat. Several specimens were found in the immediate neighbour- 

 hood, and each of us were able to take away one or more. After- 

 wards we learned that it is the One-flowered Cancer-root [Aphyllon 

 {Thalesia) uniflorum], of the Broom-rape family. 



Another very interesting botanical find was the Partridge- 

 berry in flower. This pretty little trailing vine, with its evergreen 

 leaves variegated with whitish lines and its scarlet berries, may 

 be found both in autumn and spring time, but it is only for a com- 

 paratively short season in June that it remains in flower. 



A much commoner flower, but beautiful with its rosy mark- 

 ings, is the Spreading Dogbane. It grows abundantly along the 

 borders of thickets. Its numerous, tiny, rose coloured flowers 

 make it an attractive object as it grows. But its milky juice is not 

 pleasant on one's hands, nor does it revive so readily in a vase as 

 those plants do whose juice is more watery. 



However, time flies by, and so we bring our excursion to a close- 

 There is left many another interesting specimen to be gathered, or 

 to be studied, from trees, shrubs and herbs. And next time may 

 there be many other enthusiastic naturalists to join with us in these 



pleasant Saturday afternoon excursions ! 



E. Blackader. 



