152 



the Orchis latifolia has, occasionally, a very disagree- 

 able hircine scent. This Orchis is in great plenty 

 about Besborough ; but this peculiar scent I do 

 not find taken notice of by any of you botanic wri- 

 ters. The scent is more frequent when the plant is 

 pulled and put into water. It grows then so strong, 

 it is very unpleasant in a room ; we were forced to 

 throw them out. I have also perceived it on the 

 ground, but that seldom. The puzzling circum- 

 stance is, that many of the same Orchises, scattered 

 close about, have no smell. I have examined num- 

 bers, to try whether there was any difference to make 

 out a variety ; — never could perceive the least. I 

 have watched them for several days, to see whether it 

 was occasioned by the different stage of the growth, 

 — but to no purpose ; that seemed not to produce 

 any change. Linnaeus says, bracteis flore longiori- 

 bus ; that is not the case in any plants I have ever 

 seen, nor in the figure in Miller's Illustr., nor in 

 Curtis. The figure in Curtis is much better drawn 

 and more faithful than in Miller. The latter gives 

 the root palmated ; Curtis's and all the real plants 

 I have found have two bulbs. These disagreements 

 ought to be rectified. 



I was at the Bishop of Dromore's, county of 

 Down, in September ; — found in that neighbour- 

 hood, and particularly on the marshy banks of the 

 river Laggan, the Bidens in plenty, but whether )3. 

 or not, I cannot determine ; — at another friend's 

 place, the Rubus Idasus in very wild rocky situations 

 in great abundance. I suppose there is no doubt of 

 this being indigenous ? 



