14 



longer though returned again and again. And curious was it to see the instinct 

 of the young birda at once displayed. They had much less fear of the water than 

 they had of the intruder's hand, and those who saw them not able to fly above 

 three or four yards alighting by preference in the stream below, and actually 

 trying to dive, could not hesitate to allow that power to the old birds which has 

 lately been so much called in question. 



It was a lovely walk by the river side ; it was very pleasant through the 

 oak groves up the steep hill, with excellent views here and there of the mansion, 

 and the park stretching over the hill beyond. 



In the wood some specimens of the birds nest orchis, Listera nidus avis, 

 were gathered, a plant so named from its clusteiing roots. In itself it is 

 only a pale brown flower stem without any leaves at all. Here, too, might 

 have been gathered the bee orchis, Ophrys apifcra, if there had been time to 

 search for it, as in the Hill Hole glen might have been gathered the sweet 

 milk vetch, the Astragalus Olycyphyllus, and the fcetid Hellebore, Helleborus 

 fcetidus, but they were not. Here, also, on this very hill, in a little dingle on the 

 Dinmore side of Chancehill Wood, — but too far oft' for the route to-day — grows 

 wild that exquisite flower — 



" Than whom the vernal gale 

 None fairer wakes, on bank, or spray. 

 Our England's Lily of the May, 



Our Lily of the Vale ! " 



The Convallaria nutjalis would be in flower too now! Not a hundred yards 

 from it grows a bed of the Great Water Horse-tail, Equisetum Telmateja, which 

 before autumn will be five or six feet high. Tall, graceful, and elegant, it 

 calls to mind a tropical forest in miniature. 



The only wonder was that in so hurried a march, and so long a 

 one, that so much was gathered. One plant was collected by C. G. Martin, 

 Esq., new — absolutely new to the county. It was the Alyssuni Calycinum, 

 the Large-calyxed Bladwort, a ''Wandering plant ;'' that is, a foreigner probably 

 introduced here and in many other counties of England with foreign clover, or 

 corn seed. The genus is called Aiyssum from the Greek negative "a" and 

 " XixTira," canine madness — one of the many supposed remedies for this disorder. 

 Mr. Martin gathered it in a clover field on the descent of the hill, and it is not 

 known to have grown here before. 



The Observatory was reached. An artificial ditch of unknown import was 

 passed on the hill, and soon those who pleased climbed to the top to enjoy the fine 

 view from it. Time got on, time ! time ! inexorable time ! and a rapid descent 

 was made to Dinmore Station, whence the express train quickly carried all the 

 visitors off to Hereford. 



The following gentlemen took part in the day's proceedings : — Dr. 

 M'Cullough, the President ; Chandos Wren Hoskyns, Esq. ; James Rankin, Esq. ; 

 «.nd T. Blashill, Esq., "Sice-rrcsidcnts ; John E. Lee, Esq.. of Cacrluon ; 



