294 CHARLES CARDALE BABINGTON. [1846 



To William Borrer, Esq. 



St. John's College, Cambiudge, March 19, 1846. 



My dear Sir, — What do you say to your Melampyrum commuta- 

 tum (not of Tausch, which is M. pratense) from the Wye being M. 

 nemorosum ? Its bracts seem to differ in having their base cordate- 

 inciso-dentate, as in that plant, and the calyx is apparently rather 

 hairy or hispid, that is, as far as I can judge from the specimen. In 

 the true M. nemorosum the calyx seems usually, perhaps always, 

 more decidedly hairy. What am I to call the Tintern Euphorbia ? 

 It is doubtless the E. stricta of Koch and Reichenbach, but not of 

 Linnaeus ; and as Jacquin's name, E. platyphylla, is synonymous 

 with E. stricta (Linn.), our plant seems to be without a name. My 

 own idea, however, is that in such cases it is far better to take the 

 names as employed by all (as far as I can learn) of the continental 

 botanists, even if the Linnaean herbarium does present different 

 plants. A change from the general usage only tends to create con- 

 fusion. I wish that Kippist had written upon them, as we expected 

 him to do. I have received your letter of the 16th. The speci- 

 mens of the Saxifrage are from Thirlmere. I know nothing of 

 Hieracium midicaule, and have vainly hunted for Edmondston's 

 description of it. Can you assist me ? I will write to Bromfield 

 about the Malva. From what you state it does not seem that I can 

 take any notice of the Erodium hymendides. I am quite ready to 

 describe the Crepis taraxacifolia if you have determined not to do it. 

 I wish that you would. — Yours very truly, Charles C. Babington. 



To Professor J. H. Balfour, M.D. 



St. John's College, Camiuiidge, March 28, 1846. 



Dear Balfour, — I have sent Dr. Alexander's paper to London, 

 and have little doubt of its obtaining a place in the "Annals" for 

 May. Have you any notes upon my Manual ? I have nearly con- 

 cluded a careful revision of it with a view to a second edition soon. 

 Please send me what you have as soon as you conveniently can. 

 My cousin and I have determined to try and get some lots from 

 poor Graham's herbarium, and I shall be obliged to you, as you will 

 doubtless attend the sale, if you would bid for them in my name. 

 I give them, and the highest sums to which we wish to go, on the 

 next page ; as much under as possible, of course. I suppose that 

 the Botanical Society will get some of the lots. Has the Society 

 got Linnaeus' " Flora Zeylanica ? " If not, I have a copy, which I 

 will present to the libraiy. — Yours very truly, Charles C. Babing- 

 ton. 



If you get any of the lots, please send them to me by steamer, 

 and let me know the price, and the name of your bankers, and the 

 money shall be immediately paid to your account there. 



