176 MIDLAND UNION PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS, 



following the course of the Severn and Trent to the eastern shores in 

 the spring or early summer, and returning westward in the autumn ; 

 three or four kinds of sea gull, three terns, and the green cormorant 

 may be included in this category. 



Referring to the green cormorant, a remarkable circumstance 

 occurred two or three years since, during an autumnal gale. A flight of 

 these birds, not being able to make headway against the strong westerly 

 wind, alighted on the tops of various high buildings in the town, and 

 in this situation several were shot by city gunners. 



Amongst the rare birds procured in the neighbourhood may be 

 mentioned the Rough-legged Buzzard, a winter visitor, the Peregrine 

 P^alcon, Osprey, Great Grey Shrike, Hoopoe, Bee-eater, Redneck 

 Phalarope, Squacco Heron, Spotted Crake, Redneck Grebe, Little 

 Bittern, White-fronted Goose, Lesser Tern, and others. The orni- 

 thologist has in the county an opportunity of making acquaintance 

 with the major part of the list of British birds, over 200 species being 

 known, either resident or visiting this locality. 



BOTANY. 



The Flora is such as is found in moist meadow-land and woodland, 

 and upon sandstone and Magnesian Limestone. No alpine or subalpine 

 plants. The flora is an abundant one. In the county are found of 

 flowering | lants 836 species belonging to 189 genera, and of flowerless 

 plants 302 species belonging to 87 genera, that is, altogether, 1,138 

 species belonging to 276 genera. Amongst rare plants may be 

 mentioned : Croats i^eniaUs, the Spring Crocus, and Crocus midiflorns, 

 the Autumn Crocus. These have become for at least two centuries 

 naturalised in the Nottingham meadows, and when in flower make 

 such a show as can be seen nowhere else in Britain. Acre upon acre 

 of meadow is so thickly covered that the green appearance of the 

 fields is changed to a most lovely blue purple. Since building has 

 encroached upon the meadow-land, however, the crocus is dying out. 

 The only other locality in England where the crocus is found wild is 

 at Mendham, Suffolk. 



Vinca major and minor, the greater and less Periwinkle, found near 

 Colwick, near Farnsfield, and in Kirklington Wood. Paris quadrifolia, 

 Herb Paris, found in Colwick Wood, at Aspley, and in Linby Wood. 

 Parnassia pabtstris, Grass of Parnassus, in a close beyond Scottum, 

 (Scothohiw nowj, in bog land near Bulwell, &c. Sileiie nutans, the 

 Nottingham catch-fly. This is found on the Castle Rock, and upon 

 rocks at Sneinton. A variety is found upon Dover Cliffs. The Castle 

 Rock is remarkable for the very large number of plants to be found 

 upon it, many being of a somewhat rare description. 



Amongst distinguished botanists who have written upon or collected 

 the county flora may be mentioned Deering. He published " Catalogus 

 Stirpium: a catalogue of plants naturally growing and commonly 

 cultivated in divers parts of England, more especially about 



