186 



jutor, the Rev. W. H. Coleman, without whose co-operation the work 

 would never have been undertaken. Still, as little more than the ar- 

 rangement is now necessary, and I have a considerable body of mate- 

 rials on hand, I feel that I am perhaps called upon to make an effort 

 to publish them, — more especially as 1 am indebted to the labours of 

 many kind and zealous Correspondents for a great proportion of the 

 information I possess, and who probably, together with the Public, 

 might think me in a certain degree pledged to bring the work to a 

 close. Acting under this impression, 1 have resolved to undertake 

 the publication, and I propose the work should consist of Four Parts, 

 which will appear consecutively every two or three months, according 

 as I can prepare them ; so that the whole may be completed within 

 the twelvemonth." 



The cordial thanks of British botanists are certainly due to the 

 author of the preceding paragraph, for perseveringly carrying out the 

 original intention, and not depriving them of this important addition 

 to our local floras for English counties. The turn of thought and 

 feeling conveyed in the following passage, will find a kindly echo in 

 the minds of others : — 



" It does not occur to me that I need say more in the present stage 

 of the work. It is with very mixed feelings that I have undertaken it. 

 More, alas ! than one kindred spirit, in whose company it was com- 

 menced, has, ' like the flower of the field,' passed away. Others are 

 removed to a distance, and naturally cease to take the same interest 

 in the pursuit which once occupied us so gladly. Still, it is not with- 

 out satisfaction that by-gone hours have been brought again before 

 me, — that the plant and the place, and the pleasure of finding both, 

 have come fresh into my memory ; and if I should succeed in impart- 

 ing any like pleasure to a rising generation of botanists (for these, like 

 the flowers they seek, are ever springing anew), I shall have nothing 

 to regret." 



In treating the species, the author judiciously omits generic and 

 specific characters. But he gives the derivation of names ; accents 

 the principal vowel in the generic name ; and refers (with more 

 tedious care than necessary or useful) to the pages of Smith's ' Eng- 

 lish Flora,' Lindley's ' Synopsis,' Babington's '■ Manual,' as also to the 

 figures of 'English Botany,' where the species are described or il- 

 lustrated. The distribution of each is well and fully shown ; first, 

 under the three principal divisions, and subordinately under such of 

 the twelve districts in which it has been ascertained to occur ; speci- 



