20 Proceedings. 



information on subjects of Natural History, they may be 

 shortly stated under the following seven heads: — (1) Observe 

 closely. (2) Record accurately and fully. (3) Begin with 

 the first principles of a subject. (4) Obtain a good knowledge 

 of the general outline. (5) As opportunity offers, fill in the 

 details. (6) Study prmcipally one branch of knowledge at a 

 time. (7) Have a clear perception of what has been studied 

 before attempting what is more difficult. 



Mr. A. J. Crosfield read a paper, entitled ' Notes on the 

 Spring Flora of Mentone,' fi'om which the followuig are 

 extracts : — 



The Department of the Alpes Maritimes in which Men- 

 tone is situated contains one of the richest floras in France. 

 The land rises from the sea- level to a height of over 5000 feet, 

 so the floral regions may be divided into the seaboard, the 

 hill-country, and the Alpine ranges, each with a tolerably 

 distinctive flora. The whole flora of France includes about 

 4000 species, whilst nearly 2500 have been recorded in the 

 region of the Alpes Maritimes. Of 128 species which I 

 recorded as found in flower between April 9th and 25th, 

 1874, only 54 find a place in the British Flora. Of these 15 

 are either rare as British species or stand in the ' London 

 Catalogue ' as ' introduced ' ; and only 36 find a place in the 

 ' Flora of Eeigate.' It will be observed, however, that the 

 comparison made rests upon very limited statistics, and 

 twelve months' notes might yield very different results. 

 When we come to examine the 74 species which are not 

 British, we find amongst them 19 species which are very 

 closely allied to British species. Of om* 46 British Ferns all 

 but 16 figure in the flora of the Alpes Maritimes. Wherever 

 there is a damp hollow, whether in wall or rock, the Maiden- 

 hair (Adiantiim Cainllus-Veneris) grows; and in deep cavernous 

 recesses where water constantly drips its fronds may be found 

 a foot or more in length. Ceterach officinarum is abundant 

 on the walls. Amongst the rocks on the higher hiUs 

 AspJenium fontanmn is widely distributed ; a rarer fern is 

 Cheilanthes odora, which formerly grew at Rocabruua, but 

 has, I fear, been well-nigh exterminated fi'om that locality 



