Some Wild or Common Fragrant Plants. 103 



morning these birds would be settled down on some of the fields 

 and plains of the nearest continental countries. I know of no 

 particular bird that would better repay prolonged study and 

 observation than the common starling. There was any amount 

 of lessons to be learned from its behaviour, and its previous 

 history added renewed interest to the study. Anyone who would 

 take it up and bestow a little time on it would be more than 

 repaid for any time spent on this very interesting and very fine 

 subject. 



Some Wild or Common Fragrant Plants. By Mr S. Arnott, 

 F.R.H.S. 



In considering the common flowers which yield fragrance I 

 have endeavoured to leave out of account many which are not 

 at all well known, or which are outwith the reach of the ordinarv 

 member of our Society. It has been considered better also to 

 name in addition to the really fragrant plants those which have 

 smells which come more properly under the name of "odours." 

 First we come to the common Yarrow, Achillea Millefolium, 

 which, as is well known, has odorous leaves. Few are aware, 

 however, of the fact that the roots are also gifted with an aromatic 

 fragrance. In the Alliums, in which are included the Onion, 

 Garlic, Chives, and others of the race, we have a class of plants 

 whose odour is obnoxious to many, and it is rather singular that 

 we find people who dislike the odour but are fond of the Onion 

 itself. Some of these plants are extremely pronounced in their 

 odours, but in others these are hardly perceptible. It may be 

 noted that many of the Garlics have rather fragrant flowers, and 

 that it is frequently only the foliage and bulbs which are offensive 

 in their odour. One sees but seldom now the Chamomile, 

 Anthemis nobilis, whose daisy-like flowers are used medicinally, 

 and whose leaves and flowers are strongly aromatic. The Sweet 

 Vernal Grass, Anthoxanthum odoratum, is the grass which is 

 said to give its distinctive fragrance to the hay, which is such a 

 valuable farm product in our country. It is not generally known, 

 however, that the essential oil of this grass has been employed 

 for perfuming the cheap tobaccos. Everyone is familiar with 

 Southernwood, or Old Man, also known as Lad's Love. 

 Artemisia abrotanum, as it is called, is not the only species of 



