1848] BOTANICAL CORRESPONDENCE. 305 



To the same. 



St. John's College, Cambridge, Nov. 2, 1848. 



Dear Balfour, — I have heard nothing from you about the 

 Anacharis from Duddingstone. I believe that Dr. James Mitchell 

 has sent a paper upon it, as found at Nottingham, to the Society. If 

 so, will you have the kindness to state as from me that I have a speci- 

 men of AnacJmris Alshiastrum now in my herbarium, sent to me in 

 July, 1842, by Dr. G. Johnston, of Berwick, and gathered in a pond 

 at Dunse Castle in Berwickshire. The specimen was sent for deter- 

 mination, it being new to Dr. Johnston, and I shewed it to several 

 good botanists, but as it was barren it was not named by them, and 

 I had not then the means of determining it myself. It had escaped 

 my memory, and the specimen was temporarily lost before the 

 receipt of the plant from Leicestershire. Will you see if you have 

 a duplicate of Lastrea filix-mas, with doubly serrate pinnules ? It 

 is the L. erosa of Deakin, but not, I think, the same as Moore's 

 variety incisa. Deakin has it from the Cathcart Hills, near Glasgow, 

 where it grows in great profusion. I very much want a specimen, 

 as it seems to be distinct. Will you try and get one for me ? I 

 hope that Mrs. Balfour is well. Eemember me to Brand, etc., and 

 believe me, very truly yours, Charles C. Babington. 



To the same. 



St. John's College, Cambridge, JVov. 17, 1848. 



Dear Balfour, — I really do not see what is to be done with 

 Mitchell's paper, except to make an abstract of it, and put it into the 

 report of the meeting of the Society. I hope that you mentioned 

 from me the prior discovery of the Anacharis by Johnston at Dunse 

 Castle. I hope to have a paper by Spruce upon Pyrenaean Mosses to 

 send, to be read in abstract at the next meeting, as he has offered it 

 to the "Annals," and allows it to be also put into the " Transactions." 

 I suppose from what you say about the "Transactions," that Brand 

 has sent the Part out. Is that so ? and what measures (if anv) has 

 he taken to let the members in England know that it is ready, and 

 to obtain their payments for it ? I am glad to learn that there is a 

 prospect of the new Catalogue being soon gone on with. It is much 

 wanted — the London one is so bad. I have many minute points to 

 correct in nomenclature, and some things to add, and should, there- 

 fore, like to see either the MS. or a proof, with full authority to make 

 alterations, and not be hurried in returning it. The new Catalogue 

 must be made as perfect as possible. Of course it will be arranged 

 in natural orders. I am sorry to learn that you have not got the 

 Lastrea erosa, but hope that it will be obtained next summer, as, if 

 in plenty on the Cathcart Hills, there can be no difficulty in getting 

 lots of it. Have you seen Lindley's new book, called a new edition 



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