NOTES ORIGINAL AND SELECTED. II7 



effected h}' natural agencies. On the whole one is bound to conclude that a too 

 enthusiastic member of some acclimatisation society must have planted it there. 

 If this sort of thing is done e.xtensively it would hopelessly destroy the interest in 

 the distribution of our native plants, which is the principal incentive to study 

 among a large class of local workers. If this be the true e.xplanation of this case, 

 if the Epping botanists could onl}' find out the man who has helped to muddle up 

 the Forest record, that pond would probably receive an addition to its fauna as 

 well as its flora." [See the the following note by IMr. Powell.] 



The Planting of Damasonium stellatum in Epping Forest — In my 

 recent sketch of the flora of P'pping Forest (EssE.x Naturalist, vol. vi., pp. 7 

 and 8), I mentioned the finding of this plant in a pond where it had most 

 probabl}' been planted. The surmise proves to be correct. Through the vigilance 

 of a botanical friend the perpetrator of this reprehensible act has been quite 

 recently discovered. It is the same individual w'hose plantings at Kestoa and 

 elsewhere are noticed in the strong terms following in the current (July) number 

 of the "Journal of Botany " : 



"British Botanists, especially London ones, will regret to learn that the intro- 

 duction of plants into localities where they may become established is being 

 carried on with considerable energy by a member of a London Natural History 

 Society. Hampstead Heath and Keston Bog are two of the places where this 

 pernicious and unscientific action has occurred ; and Parnassia and Pinguicida 

 vulgaris were planted in the New Forest bogs by the same individual. In this case 

 it was possible to nullify' the attempt ; but the precautions then taken may easily 

 be evaded, and it is to be feared that in some cases the imposition may be success- 

 ful. We trust that the society referred to will take steps to dissociate itself from 

 so disreputable a proceeding." 



It is to be hoped that the castigation inflicted will be sufficient to deter the 

 culprit from continuing his mischievous practices. Such impositions are bound 

 to be found out ; but in the meantime are likely to produce much trouble and per- 

 plexity, especially to young collectors.— J. T. PoWELL, Clapton, July 7th, 1892. 



Funeral Garlands. — In further illustration of this subject (jinte pp. 99 and 

 105) Mr. T. Lowrey sends us the following extract from Hone's "Table Book " : 

 "In the year 1733, the clerk of the parish church of Bromley, in Kent, by his 

 digging a grave in that churchyard, close to the east end of the chancel wall, dug 

 up a funeral crown, or garland, most artificially wrought in filagree work with 

 gold and silver wire, in resemblance of myrtle. . . . Besides these crowns (which 

 were buried with deceased virgins), the ancients had also their depository garlands, 

 the use of which was continued even till of late years . . . which garlands at 

 the funerals of the deceased were carried solemnly before the corpse by two maids, 

 and afterwards hung up in some conspicuous place within the church, in memorial 

 of the departed person, and were (at least all that I have seen) made after the 

 following manner, viz., the lower rim or circlet was a broad hoop of wood, where- 

 unto was fixed, at the sides thereof, part of two other hoops crossing each other at 

 the top, at right angles, which formed the upper part, being about one-third longer 

 than the width ; these hoops were wholly covered with artificial flowers of paper, 

 dyed horn, or silk, and more or less beauteous, according to the skill or ingenuity 

 of the performer. In the vacancy of the inside, from the top, hung white paper, 

 cut in form of gloves, whereon was wrote the deceased's name, age, etc., together 

 •with long slips of various coloured paper or ribbons. ..." 



