5 4 The Scottish Naturalist. 



ruption of Tussilago ; while Carsons are Water-cresses ( Nasturtium), from 

 Carse, the old spelling of Cress, AS. Gwr*. Dodjell reepan "a beautiful plan 

 common in marshy places," flower (or head of flowers) of a conical shape ' of 

 a lovely red -but sometimes white, its smell very fine, and its root of a 

 bulbous nature. "/ "There are few districts in Scotland which have not their 

 own name to this plant ; in Annandale, and on the border, it is Meadow rocket; 

 in the west and greater part of Ireland, Mount Caper." What is the plant? 

 Gymnadenia or Habenaria f 



In Avrshire we find the Crab-apple ( ' Pyrus MalusJ called the Scribe-tree, 

 and the Bird-cherry ( ' Prunus PadusJ, Hagberry, a name also found in the 

 north of England, and of which Dr Prior gives the derivation, In the same 

 county, Lonicera Periclymenum is called Woodbine but in Perthshire the other 

 name, Honeysuckle, predominates. In Perthshire, Oxalis acetosella, the Wood 

 Sorrel, is called Lady's Clover, and French Sourock, — the first from its delicate 

 trifoliate leaf; the second from its acid taste, resembling that of the Sourock, 

 (Rumex acetosus.) Then, we have Ragwort, ( Senccio Jacobcea, ) known by the 

 name of Weeby ; and Monkshood, ( Aconitum), by the appropriate term, "Old 

 Wives' Mutches." In Inverness-shire, the Aspen, ( ' Populus tremula), is known 

 as the Mountain, or Quaking, Ash ; and in Kirkcudbrightshire, the Quaking 

 Crass, (JBriza)\s called Mountain Flax, and is used medicinally. Another 

 plant of high medicinal repute for cattle, in the same county, is Potentilla 

 Tormentilh', which is called Tormtnlil, the accent being laid with great stress 

 on the penultimate. In conclusion, we must say one word with regard to what 

 species has most right to the term "Scotch Thistle." Dr. Prior says the Musk 

 Thistle (Carduus nutans, J or the Cotton Thistle (Onopordum acanthi urn J; a 

 writer in the Scottish Fanner, discusses the claims of several species, but decides 

 upon none; and the late Sir W. J. Hooker states that Onopordum acanthium 

 is cultivated as the Scotch Thistle. Our own opinion agrees with that of the 

 writer in the Scottish Farmer, and is that, as in the English Rose and the Irish 

 Shamrock, the identical species is uncertain. If, however, we were asked to 

 select any one species, as the Scotch Thistle, our choice would be the Spear 

 Thistle f Carduus lanceolatus.J 



LIST OF MOSSES FOUND IN THE VICINITY OF FORRES. 



BY THE REV. JAMES KEITH, M.A. 



"THE following list has been made up mainly from a collec 

 A tion of Mosses gathered upwards of twenty years ago by 

 Dr. J. G. Jnnes, of Forres, during the scanty intervals of leisure 

 available for such pursuits in a busy professional life. This 

 collection contains a few species from Grantown, Cawdor, and 

 Glenfernes, discovered during a hasty visit to each of these 

 localities, and these species have been mentioned in the list. 

 All the rest are from the vicinity of Forres. The few discoveries 



