2(M 



fully, and the adder's tongue {Opkioglossum vulgatum). The biittle fern 

 {CUtopteris fragilis) formerly frequent on the walls, is now nearly extinct. 

 The neighbourhood of Eoss also furnishes the following amongst many more : 

 the yellow star of Bethlehem {aagca lutea) ; Narcissuss hiHorus, butter wort 

 (Pinguicula vulgaris) ; alkanet (,Aiichusa sempervirens) ; the blue pimpernel 

 {Anagallis ceruUa) ; herb true love (Parh quadrifoUa) ; the lesser winter 

 green {Pyrola minor); monkshood (Aconitum napcUut:), apparently wild; 

 henbane (Byoscyamas n>ger) ; also Conium, Digitalis, and Colchicum, very 

 abundantly, so that we have a long list of highly poisonous plants. Three 

 rare plants have lately been found here, viz., Bunium, hulhncastanum, 

 Potamogeton graniineus, and Sparganium wiiniwum— neither of these was 

 before known to grow in this county. The woods near contain five species of 

 wood rush (Luzula Forsteri, Borreri, Pilosa, Campestris, and Sylvatica). The 

 arrow head, flowering rush, and the purple and yellow loose strife, grow on 

 the banks of the Wye and in its waters ; the American water weed (Anacharis 

 ahinastrum) is rapidly increasing. We have also the Deptford pink (Dianthua 

 armeria), geranium phceum the three beautiful campanuks (Rapunculus, 

 Patula, and Latifolia), the mother wort {Leonurug cardiaceaj, held almost 

 sacred by the villagers, &c., &c. I may also mention the Lolium temulentum, 

 supposed to be the only poisonous grass, and known in very early times as 

 " drunken darnel," from the intoxicating effects it produced, is happily now 

 very scarce. The interesting question as to the geographical distribution of 

 plants, and how or why some are thus scattered in solitary groups about the 

 land, whilst others are almost universally abundant, I must leave to wiser 

 heads. I trust I have shown, at any rate, that we have in this beautiful 

 neighbourhood, a very fertile field for patient and diligent search. 



Mr. SouthaU's paper was illustrated by beautifully prepared specimens 

 of the several plants which were arranged upon the side of the room. He had 

 also brought several duplicates for presentation to the botanical members ; 

 and what was still more thoughtful and considerate, he had brought a whole 

 basket full, some dozens, of the roots of the bmestose polypody (Polypodium 

 calcareum) from the Coldwell rocks, each nicely packed up in damp paper 

 for carrying away— and carried away they soon were, every one of them, 

 with very great satisfaction. 



The Pbesident then called on Mr. Brodie for his paper on the " Insect 

 and Saurian beds of the lias formation." 



■^"e^^^^^B^^ 



