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ON THE PLANTS OF THE MALVERN HILLS, AND 

 THEIR ORIGINAL DERIVATION. 



By EDWIN LEES, K.LS., F.G.S., &c., Vice-President of the Malvern 

 and Worcestershire Naturalists' Clubs. 



Mr. Lees introduced his paper by remarking that, in contemplating the 

 emblazoned windows of the Priory Church that morning with his friends of 

 the various Clubs, while Mr. MuBn described the painted glass, he could not 

 help thinking how men in general were influenced by the colouring of things, 

 and the medium through which objects were viewed. He would, therefore, 

 treat them with a moral reflection before proceeding to the details of science, 

 and he felt inclined to say that, as passion, whim, or prejudicb often coloured 

 or discoloured whatever lay before the view, so even naturalists were 

 influenced by the theoretic views that at times tinged their descriptions and 

 gave them a peculiar hue. To all objects and pursuits a colour might be 

 given according to the fancy of the describer, and it therefore became neces- 

 sary to examine everything closely, and not trust to the mere colour of the 

 surface, or to a tint that, laid on deceptively, might not be of an enduring 

 nature. Bright colouring was, however, always attractive to the eye, and 

 thus it was that the flowery garb of Nature never failed to please the wanderer, 

 and the poet who wished to adorn his descriptions, scarcely ever omitted to 

 pluck some flowery wreath, or, like Milton, was incited to — 



"Call the vales, and hither bid them cast 



Their gems aud flow' rets of a thousaud hues." 



Mr. Lees then read the following remarks on the 



FLORA OF TEE MALVERN HILLS. 



Everybody, whether actual botanists or not, admits the interest that 

 there is in the contemplation of plants, for with the revivification of vegeta- 

 tion in the Spring, the world of life and beauty awakens to delight the gazer 

 upon the face of Nature. As Wordsworth has well said- 

 Bright flowers ! each comiDg year hath view'd 

 Their myriads— endlessly renew'd ; 

 Wherever strikes the sun's glad ray, 

 Where'er the joyous waters stray ; 

 Wherever sportive zephyrs bend 

 Their course, or genial showers descend ; 



they offer themselves to please and gladden the delighted eye. 



The variety that Flora presents in different localities is a source of per- 

 petual interest to the wandering botanist ; and as in almost every place where 

 there are hills and streams some particular plants are found that rejoice in 

 such favoured spots, the botanist looks out for what he fondly denominates 



