865 



to the situation of the little bracteas on the scape, as a distinctive 

 character betwixt this species and the V. hirta. The words of Mr. 

 Curtis, as quoted at page 36 of vol. i. of Hook. Brit. Flora, ed. v., in 

 regard to this character, are, " here (that is, in hirta) below, in V. 

 odorata, above the middle." At the Dairsie station for odorata I have 

 observed many scapes with their bracteas far below the middle of the 

 scape, and many more whose bracteas seemed so exactly in the mid- 

 dle, that it was quite impossible to say that they were either above or 

 below it. However, by far the greater number of individuals that I 

 have seen (and I have examined some hundreds) have their bracteas 

 above the middle of the scape, although this certainly cannot by any 

 means be considered a constant character. I am led to think that the 

 situation of the bracteas is much more constant in V. hirta than in the 

 species more particularly before our notice, as last month, while on a 

 visit to Dundee, 1 examined numerous specimens (of hirta) at Wills 

 braes near that town, in company with my esteemed friend Mr. John 

 Sime, and with some difficulty found only a few examples of the 

 bracteas being about the middle, and but one with these slightly above 

 it. On referring to the " mummies'''' I possess of the growth of former 

 years, I find some specimens of hirta with the bracteas very near to 

 the base of the scape ; but none showing these even near so far up as 

 the middle. In specimens I have of V. odorata, from Derbyshire and 

 Forfarshire (the former gatliered by Mr. Joseph Whittaker of Bread- 

 sail, the latter by myself) the bracteas are all far above the middle. 

 My observations lead me to conclude that genei^ally the bracteas are 

 in V. hirta below, and in V. odorata above the middle of the scape, 

 but that the exceptions to these rules are of so frequent occurrence as 

 to render them unsuitable as characters of distinction. 



The next station 1 have to record for our sweet gem is the Douket 

 Hill,* at Craig-foodie, where it grows in great profusion under the leafy 

 shade of many trees. Here the violet grows luxuriantly, and quite 

 wild-like : I understand it has done so for many years ; but it has 

 probably been originally an escape from Craig-foodie garden, of which 

 the station is in the immediate vicinage. 



At Clayton the violet grows profusely in the turf of the pleasure- 

 grounds ; but the frequent mowing of the grass prevents the flower- 

 buds from bursting into blossoms, for they are generally cut off" before 

 they reach maturity. Here there cannot be a doubt that the plant is 



* In plainer English, Dove-cot Hill, so named from a dove-cot or pigeon-house 

 standing upon it. 



