INTRODUCTION 



xlvii 



aquaiica, Hypericum acutum, H. quadrangulum, Geranium pratense, Ononis 

 spinosa, Melilotus officinalis, Sagina nodosa, Lotus uliginosus, Geum rivale, 

 G. intermedium, Poterium officinale, Saxifraga granulata, Hippuris, Lythrum 

 Salicaria, Epilobium parviflomm, E. hirsutum, E. tetragonmn, E. jJalustre, 

 Hijdrocotijle, Conium, Apium nodijlorum, Sium latifolium, S. erectum, Oenanthe 

 fistulosa, Oe. silaifolia, Oe. crocata, Silaus, Angelica, Viburnum Opulus, Galium 

 palustrc, G. uliginosum, Valeriana dioica, V. officinalis, Bidens cernua, B. 

 tripartita, Petasites, Hottonia, Lysimachia vulgaris^ L. Nummularia, Menyanthes, 

 Symphytum officinale, Myosoiis palmlris, Cuscuta europaea, Mimulus, Veronica 

 scutellata, V. Anagallis, V. Beccabunga, Pedicularls palustris, Rhinanthus, 

 Mentha aqiiatica, M. verticillata, Lycopus, Scutellaria galericidata, Atriplex 

 deltoidea, Polygonum Bistorta, P. minus, P. mite, P. macidatmn, P. amphibium, 

 Rmnex maritimus, R. Hydrolapatheum, Humulus, Alniis, Salix purpurea, S. 

 fragilis, S. viridis, S. triandra, S. viminalis, S. cinerea, &c., Populus alba, 

 P. canescens, P. nigra, Hydrocharis, Orchis latifolia, 0. incamata, Iris Pseuda- 

 corus, Leucojum aestivum. Allium vineale, Fritillaria, Typha angustifolia, T. 

 latifolia, Sparganium erectum, S. neglectum, Acorus, Bufomus, Triglochin, 

 Eleocharis acicularis, E. pahistris, E. multicaulis, Scirpus setaceus, S. lactistris, 

 S. caricis, Carex dioica, C. pulicaris, C. disticha, C. paniculata, C. vulpina, 

 C. remota, C. acuta, C. flacca, C. panicea, C. distans, C. riparia, C. acutiformis, 

 C. vesicaria, C. rostrata, Phalaris, Agwstis alba, Phragmites, Caiabrosa. Ghjceria 

 plicata, G. aquatica, Festuca rubra, F. elatior, F. arundinacea, Bromus erectus, 

 B. commutatus, B. racemosus, Lolium perenne, Hordeum bulbosum, Equisetum 

 palustre, E. limosum, and Ophioglossum. 



THE RIVER DRAINAGE OF BERKSHIRE. 



Berkshire is entirely contained in the Thames basin, the area of 

 which, according to the Report of the Rivers' Commission, is about 

 5,162 square miles, or over 3,300,000 statute acres. The greatest length 

 of the basin, according to the same report, is from Trewsbury Mead 

 in Gloucestershire to the estuary ; its greatest breadth from Prior's 

 Marston in Warwickshire to Fernhurst in Sussex, fifteen counties 

 being partly or entirely included in it. 



The Thames 1 takes its rise near the 'Foss Road' from the Oolitic 

 limestone rocks of the Cotswold Hills, the escarpment of which is the 

 western boundary of the basin. The reputed source of the Thames is 

 in Trewsbury Mead, about three miles south-west of Cirencester. In 

 a valley nowcommonly dry,but still occasionally too full of subterranean 

 water to be always dry, rose from immemorial time the clear, full, 

 bright source of the Thames, till, in the latter part of the last century, 

 the Thames and Severn Canal drank up the river to feed its thirsty 



1 ' Tamesis fluviorum omnium, qui Britanniam alunt, facile princeps mihi 

 in mentem venit,' Leland, Praefatio in Cygn. Cant. 



