138 THE NATURALIST. 



might otherwise have done. My first walk was into the Park, situated on 

 the side of a hill, at the back of the town, at the top of which are two or 

 three woods. Whilst rambling in these woods an Epipactis was noticed, 

 which, on investigation, proved to be E, media. This plant was new to 

 me, and as E. latifolia grew abundantly in the same spot, I took the 

 opportunity of observing the chief differences between the two. E. media 

 is a taller plant than E. latifolia, and is altogether lighter in colour ; the 

 flowers are also larger, and want the purple lip which is so ornamental to 

 the latter ; this lip in E. media terminates in a sharp point, while in E. 

 latifolia the point is blunt, and frequently curves under. Another differ- 

 ence is noticeable in the time of flowering : the former was in full blossom 

 on the 20th of July, while of the latter but one or two flowers appeared. 

 I found both these species also in Dane Garden Wood, near the Park, and 

 in Bisham Wood, Berkshire. In the Park woods, the dead stems of 

 Neottia Nidus-avis were abundant, and the Wall Lettuce, Lactuca muralis, 

 is common here, as well as on walls and in woods throughout the neigh- 

 bourhood. Descending from the woods to the waterfall, I noticed near the 

 latter a nice patch oi Aconitum Napellus ; here, however, it may have been 

 planted. Passing through the lodge gates, I shortly arrived on a hilly 

 common, known by the name of Keep Hill ; Carduus acaulis was here 

 very conspicuous, with C. nutans ; and the prickly heads of St. Barnaby's 

 Thistle [Carlina vulgaris) were just appearing, Hippocrepis comosa was 

 abundant earlier in the season ; and Herminium monorchis is stated in a 

 local paper to have been found here. Crossing the hill, I entered Dane 

 Garden Wood, where I observed a few plants of the Tutsan [Hypericum 

 Androscemimi) which name is evidently a corruption of " tout sain,'' or " tout 

 saint," given it in the days when the St. John's Worts were endowed with 

 imagined mystic powers. Lysimachia nemorum is abundant at the top of 

 this wood ; and in the lower part are a few plants of Epilobium angusti- 

 folium. Passing across a field, I arrived at the railway, and walked part 

 of the way home along the embankment, where, among numbers of plants 

 of Verbascum nigrum,, I was delighted to find three or four of the rare V. 

 Lychnitis, each bearing several tall stems covered with white flowers, which 

 had a sweet scent, resembling that of honey. I believe that this species 

 has not been hitherto noticed in the county. I selected one or two speci- 

 mens, taking care to leave plenty for seed, and then returned home, well 

 satisfied with my success, noticing Chelidonium majus in the hedges near 

 the town. 



