CORRESPONDENCE. 208 



Thompson, of Cradley, Worcestershire ; and Mr. King, of Pedrnore. At 

 that time it was a remarkable sight to see so many plants of Verbascum 

 Lychnitis, to the number probably of more than two hundred, imparting 

 quite a grey and singular appearance to the place. Closely adjoining, 

 about and below the same steep and then uncultivated slope, and a 

 considerable distance even from any detached cottage, we found V. 

 Thapso-Lychnitis, the rare hybrid by cross fertilisation between the first- 

 named plants and V. Thapsus : the last more sparingly found there. 

 Erythrcea Centaurium was in immense quantity, colouring the spot over 

 large spaces by its pretty pink flowers. Large plants of Echium vulgare 

 grew about the lower ground, and many specimens of Trifolium arvense 

 and procumbent. Jasione montana came to hand, with its unique heads of 

 pale blue clustering flowers, so special among the Campanulacese. Many 

 plants of Silene inflata grew on the upper part of the slopes, and the pretty 

 little Calamintha Acinos was plentiful in the undergrowth, while we 

 fortunately met with one plant of the local, and hereabouts rare, Chicory, 

 Cichorium Intybus. When passing through the adjoining fields, we found 

 one or two plants of Achillea Ptarmica, seldom found near Stourbridge ; 

 also Scutellaria galcricalata, the blue Skull-cap, and Linum perenne : with 

 one solitary plant of Lathyrus Aphaca, most rare in this part of the 

 Midlands. Continuing our walk, we arrived at some waste banks at 

 Whittington, near the River Stour, where we met with the Opium Poppy, 

 Papaver somniferum, and Mimulus luteus, both of which may have escaped 

 from gardens in the neighbourhood. But some fine plants, then in fruit, 

 of the beautiful-leaved Cardamine impatiens were doubtless wild ; likewise 

 Malachium aquaticum, with a profuse growth of the showy Willow Herb, 

 Epilobium angusti folium. Such diversified plants, found in so limited a 

 tract of ground, imparted great interest to our very pleasant ramble. — 

 Horace Pearce, F.L.S., Stourbridge, July 7th, 1880. 



Phenolpgical Observations, taken in the Neighbourhood of 

 Castle Ashby, Northamptonshire. — May 20th, the green-winged Orchis 

 (Orchis morio) first found in full flower, in a sandy pasture field. 21st, 

 the Bush Vetch (Vicia sepium) seen in flower on a hedge bank, with 

 S.W. aspect ; the specimens had evidently been in flower some days 

 before noticed. From near this I gathered my first specimen of the 

 Dewberry Bramble (Rubus cccsius, ) and some plants of Medicago, and 

 Trifolium minus in full bloom. Flowers of Heracleum Sphondylium were 

 also noticed on the same date. 22nd, specimens of the common Avens 

 (Geum urbanum) gathered in flower from a hedge bank, facing S.W. ; 

 -and Lotus corniculatus seen on the grassy border of a cornfield ; Oak Trees 

 in full flower by this date. 24th, Brooklime (Veronica Beccabunga) first 

 seen in flower in ditch open to S.W. Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis) on 

 waste ground near a stone pit. White Campion (Lychnis vespertina,) 

 Myosotis arvensis, and the Field Crowfoot (Ranunculus arvensis) in corn- 

 fields. 25th, flowers of the Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus Crista-galli) seen 

 in pasture. 28th, Orange Tip and Skipper Butterflies seen in Yardley 

 Chase. Specimens of Veronica officinalis, a white variety of Ajuga reptans, 

 white Hyacinths, Twayblade (Listera ovata,) and the white Butterfly 

 Orchis (Habenaria chlorantha) gathered in the woods. In the case of the 

 two last mentioned the lower flowers only were fully expanded. On the 

 same day I noticed the Little Milkwort (Poly gala depressa) in a dry 

 pasture field. The Shepherd's Needle (Scandix Pecten-veneris,) wild 

 Pansy (Viola arvensis,) and the Gromwell (Lithospermum arvense) in the 

 adjoining cornfields. The Mouse-ear Hawksweed (Hieracium Pilosella) 

 I saw in flower by the side of a ditch on the above date, apparently the 

 flowers had been out several days before noticed. 29th, the round-leaved 

 Mallow (Malva rotundifolia) first found in flower by the side of a wall 



