131 



already referred to the circumstances under which I have observed 

 Camelina sativa. Teesdalia nudicaulis occurs on dry hill-sides in 

 different parts of the district, especially where the surface has been 

 disturbed. 



The only member of the CiSTACEiE is probably Helianthemum 

 vulgare, which flourishes among the limestone rocks that crop out 

 to the surface on Moordivock. A patch of it occurs by the road 

 side not far from the foot of Slapestones brow, going in the direction 

 of the old Snuff-Mill. 



Of the ViOLACEiE several species occur. Viola odorata is found 

 by the road side near Watermillock House, where, as well as at 

 the summit of Slapestones, it may rank as a casual. Viola lutea 

 is extremely abundant and widely distributed in the district. It is 

 a very handsome species, and I have a pleasant recollection of the 

 manner in which I saw some meadows above the village of Dockray, 

 in Matterdale, enamelled with its flowers in the summer of 1880. 

 A variety with petals wholly yellow occurs near the footpath leading 

 from Stoddah to Penruddock, not far from the former place. Viola 

 flavicornis, on the rocks near Kailpot Crag. 



Droserac^. Of the many thousand plants of Drosera that I 

 have observed growing in the boggy grounds at the base of every 

 mountain, they have ever turned out to be specimens of Drosera 

 rotundifolia. It has the reputation of being to some extent sensi- 

 tive, and, as many writers allege, insectivorous ; its beautifully 

 fringed leaves, closing upon the unwary fly that may settle upon 

 them, and preventing all escape, until the juices of the insect's 

 body have been in some myslerious manner absorbed by the plant* 

 Whether such food is essential to the health of the vegetable, I 

 cannot undertake to affirm ; but the fact is undoubted, that a very 

 great majority of the leaves of the Sundew are found to contain the 

 remains of insects so entrapped and destroyed. 



Of the PoLYGALACE/E we possess but one species, Polygala 

 vulgaris, of frequent occurrence on mountainous heaths. A very 

 pretty little plant, the flowers varying much in the hue of their 



