320 CHARLES CARDALE BABINGTON. [1852 



To the Rev. W. H. Purchas. 



St. John's College, Cambridge, Aug. 12, 1852. 



My dear Sir, — I return the specimens, as I deduce from your 

 letter that you wish me to do so, although you do not exactly say 

 so. I have examined them carefully, and marked them as I think 

 that they ought to be named. Hieracium caesium is a very common 

 plant, and very variable. You should look for H. murm-um on the 

 wooded slopes of your limestone hills. The Epilohia are rather 

 difficult if we attempt to separate E. Lamyi from E. tetragonum. 

 The former has I fancy shorter leaves than the latter, and their 

 petioles are very much more decided than is the case in your plant. 

 In E. virgatum the seeds are ovate and acute at their base ; in 

 E. tetragonum and E. Lamyi they are oblong-obovate and rounded 

 at both ends. I am rather amused at your defending yourself for 

 mentioning to me the opinions formed by Messrs. Borrer and Watson 

 concerning the Willow. The opinion of the former upon any plants, 

 and more especially the Willows, has very great weight with me. 

 I always feel doubtful of an opinion when I find that he has arrived 

 at a different one concerning any species. — Believe me to be, very 

 truly yours, Charles C. Babington. 



To the same. 

 St. John's College, Cambridge, Bee. 6, 1852. 



My dear Sir, — I have examined the plants and return them to 

 you. I shall always have pleasure in doing so, when you may 

 desire it. I think that Godron would have called the Ranunculus, 

 aquatilis, but fancy that it may possibly be different from the true 

 plant of that name. It is not peltatus, as I at first thought, and 

 would I think be called heterophyllus by Fries. I do think that 

 Ranunculi vary much in luxuriance in different situations. I shall 

 be much obliged by the gift of any Batrachian Ranunculi next 

 summer. The Melampyrum may be a connecting link between 

 M. pratense and M. montanum. I do not know of any other species 

 with which to place it. You should study it carefully, and draw 

 up a description from fresh specimens. I have marked what I 

 think of the Thymes. It is not easy to tell the species apart in 

 imperfect dry specimens. They seem to me to be quite distinct in 

 nature. I see that you are also discontented with the " Phytologist." 

 There are many in the same condition, but it is most difficult to form 

 any plan for meeting that dissatisfaction. The " Gazette " did not 

 pay within many pounds of its expense ; but I cannot help thinking 

 that if it had been continued, it might have been made to pay 

 ultimately. The fact is that many said that they wished it to go 

 on, but very few would take active measures to secure its success. 

 Henfrey could not be expected to go on at a large annual loss. — 

 Yours very truly, Charles C. Babington. 



