3J56 CORRESPONDENCE. 



Corrtsponiitncc. 



Scientific Najies. — With reference to Dr. CobbokVs appeal to me in 

 the November number of the " Midland Naturahst," (p. 295,) it may be 

 observed that we have the authoi'ity of the Greeks themselves for a 

 depiirtui'e from the usual plan in the formation of the words Distoinum 

 and Tristomum, these actual words, (with others of a like character,) 

 occurring, of course in their Greek form, in that language. But these 

 exceptions do not invalidate the general rule, which is as I have stated 

 it, and it would be hard to say that we must not use such a word as 

 Polystoma, while poJupoiis, poJucheir, etc., are good Greek. Another 

 observation is that when Distoinum is used, Distomida? becomes correct ; 

 the error consists in using Distoma and Distomida; concurrently. No 

 one can say that it is unfitting to employ "complimentary" generio 

 names, many of them, as Linnaia and Lobelia, being among the prettiest 

 we have, and even Lyellii and Forsteri may be tolerated. But every one, 

 who is not a professional nomenclator, regrets that the liberty is so often 

 abused: the "compliment" has now become so common, that one 

 scarcely cares to enquire, or even to wonder, who the savant is, who is 

 supposed to be complimented. — W. B. Geove. 



Fungi. — I sliould be much obliged if some- of the readers of the 

 " Midland Naturalirt" would kindly inform me whether they have found 

 the Chantarelle in Leicestershire. I have failed so far, tliough this 

 locaHty is a fairly good one. I have found it in Warwickshire. Few people, 

 I think, are aware how very good eating some of the quite common fungi 

 are. Hi/r/rophoTus virgineus and II. jJi'n-tensiti, Boletus ediilis, and the Maned 

 Agaric are among tlie best. I have almost invai'iably found B. edulis 

 under oak trees. Is this the usual experience ? One other circumstance 

 I should like to have corroborated, and, if it may be, explained. This 

 autumn we buried, about ijit. deep, a quantity of diseased potatos. About 

 a fortnight ago I observed quite a large crop of Peziza aunnitia growing 

 over the spot, though I had never before observed it in the garden or its 

 immediate neighbourhood. Was this merely a coincidence? — E. A. 

 Gbeen, Normanton llectory, Ashby-de-la-Zouch. 



Miller's Dale Flora. — I was rather surprised to notice Mr. G. 

 Robson (an old correspondent of mine) recording the botany of Miller's 

 Dale as " rather disappointing." Its botany pleased me as much as the 

 perusal of Mr. Eobson's really fine description of a Derbyshire thunder- 

 storm. In addition to the ferns he mentions I have found many other 

 uncommon plants within about half an hour's walk from the station, such 

 as : — Thalictrumjldvum, I'rollius europteui;, IlcU.cborm vir>dis,I>r(iba incana, 

 Silene nutam, H'jpericum mnntanum, Geranium sanguineum, G. pratense, 

 G. coluntbtnum, Rliuiimus cailuirticus, Primus Padus, Sanyuiwrba ojUcinaliSf 

 Poterium Sanguisorha, PolentiUa I'erna, Bubus cii'siun, B. sa.r<itilis, Geum 

 intermedium, Bosa tomentond, B. arveus^is, Pt/rus Aria, P. rupicola, Eibes 

 Grossuluria, R. aipinum, R. nibriim, Sedum Telepltiniii, Suxifraga grauulata, 

 S. hypnoides, Parnassin palustris, Pinipinella magna, Cornug sanguinea, 

 Galium sglvestre, Scabiosa Columbaria, Cardnnn nuta7is, C. crispun, C. 

 heterophyllus, Carlina vulgaris, Serratula tinrtoria, Lactuca- muralis, 

 Campanula Trachelium, C. latifolia, Ligustrvm vulgare, (not in or near 

 hedges,) Gentiana Amarella, Calaminthn Acinos, Myosolis collina, Poli/gojium 

 liixlorta, Taxus baccata, Biysmns compreKsus, Plileum tiodnnum, Arena 

 p^tbeacens, Koileria cristata, 31elica nutans, Poa vemoralis, Aspidivm lobainm, 

 Botrycliium Lunaria, and many other good plants. I have found a few 

 miles further up Chee Dale, towards Buxton, Ihitchinsia • petnea, 

 Cardamine impatiens, Pnlemonium c<truleum, Draba inuralis, Mimuluft luteus, 

 &c. I have only paid flying visits to the neighbourhood alone, and there- 

 fore do not pretend to know all the rare plants. — Wii. West, Bradford. 



