48 REV. DR. HIXD — NOTES ON THE PLANTS OF AVniCH 



63, Mercurialis perennis, dog's mercury, is one of the earliest 

 plants of our hedgerows and woods. It bears its green flowers in 

 lax spikes ; the male and female on different plants. Its fresh 

 green leaves form the first furnishing of oui' hedgerows. 



64, Ulmus montana, wych elm, is of rare occuiTenoe in this 

 neighbourhood. It is of more branching habit than the Ulmus 

 suberosa, common, or cork-bark elm. It has also larger, rougher, 

 and more acuminate leaves, and its fruit grows in hop-like clusters. 



65, Salix caprea, great sallow, may be known from the other 

 members of this large genus by its large, broad oval, or rounded 

 leaves. As it bears its catkins before its leaves, it is not so easily 

 recognised when in flower. 



69, Narcissus Pseudo-narcissus, daffodil, locally called Lent-lily. 

 I need not point out any distinguishing features of this well-known 

 gay flower. Though it occurs so plentifully in this neighbourhood, 

 I fear that in none of the places where I have found it, it can prefer 

 a claim to be considered indigenous. 



71, Endymion nutans^ bluebell, is one of the best known plants 

 of our country, coming into flower with the advancing spring, just 

 as our primroses and earlier flowers are beginning to wane, and 

 adorning our copses and hedge banks with its nodding spikes of 

 bright blue blossoms. 



This closes the list. Scientific botanists will, I trust, excuse me 

 for having added nothing to their previous knowledge. Learners 

 and non-botanists will, I hope, kindly accept the few meagre hints 

 which I have given them to enable them to recognise the plants 

 with respect to which their observations are invited. There is no 

 part of our published Floras that I so much distrust as the recorded 

 times of flowering ; and it is at least desirable that these should be 

 stated as exactly as possible. It is obvious, however, that this gain 

 would not satisfy the Meteorological Society. In ascertaining and 

 recording the local phenomena of the vegetable and animal kingdom 

 throughout this country, and the differences of the same from year 

 to year, they are laying the foundation of a more accurate know- 

 ledge of the climate of this country, and of its relation to animal and 

 vegetable life. This is a matter in whicli all are directly interested, 

 and in carrying out which all should be ready to lend a hand. 

 Surely the Watford Natural History Society will not be the last to 

 help on so good a work ! 



In the Instructions of the Meteorological Society the following 

 remarks are contributed by the llev. T. A. Preston, ^I.A., and as 

 the species of which he treats are not referred to above, are here 

 appended. 



1, Anemone ncmorosa. When it first comes up the flower is bent 

 downwards, and tlie stamens are visible long before tlie plant can be 

 fairly said to be in lluwcr. Perhaps no specimen should be con- 

 sidered to be in flower till the flower is turned upwards. 



3, Ranunmlus acris. There are three plants very similar to one 



