594 



Mr. Dawson Turner (ex Snooke, Fl. Vect.) Sandown Bay, and be- 

 twixt Calborne and Brixton ; Mr. G. Kirkpatrick. I think I have 

 seen it on banks of wet slipped land in Whitecliff Bay, in this island. 

 Atropa Belladonna. In woods, thickets and waste shady places, 

 along fences, amongst ruins, and on the sea-beach, but not common 

 in the county, and extremely rare in the Isle of Wight, if not quite 

 extinct there. Near Knighton House, under the palings near the 

 gardener's cottage, in considerable plenty ; Mrs. Charles (now Lady) 

 Brenton. The plant which was found by Lady B. several years ago 

 is now quite extinct at Knighton, but a coloured sketch made by her 

 from a living specimen at the time, removes all doubt of any mistake 

 as to the species.* It has never occurred to myself in the Isle of 

 Wight since the above account was received, and alterations made 

 on the premises, or perhaps a knowledge of its dangerous qualities, 

 may have caused its extirpation in the only known station at Knigh- 

 ton. In various places along the shore between Southampton and 

 Netley, on the shingly beach, and under palings and banks. Near 

 Warnford ; Rev. E. M. Sladen. Old Park Wood (West Meon ?) and 

 Warnford; Miss L. Sibley. King's House, Winton. Road-sides at 

 Otterbourne, abundant (still?); Rev. Messrs. Gamier and Poulter in 

 Hamp. Repos. In very great abundance in several parts of Long- 

 wood Warren, where it was first indicated to me by my very zealous 

 friend Miss G. E. Kilderbee Hi As this place possesses peculiar fea- 

 tures, and abounds with a vegetation of a character in keeping with 

 its own wild and dreary aspect, a short account of it may be interest- 

 ing. Longwood Warren constitutes a tract of elevated ground, the 

 centre of which is about three miles south-east of Winchester in a 

 direct line, and swarms with rabbits noted in the market for their su- 

 perior flavour. f Part of the warren has been enclosed from time to 

 time and converted into arable, but a great deal yet remains in a state 

 of nature, and could never probably be brought under profitable cul- 

 tivation. The soil to me appears to be diluvial, and to consist prin- 

 cipally of coarse sand or gravel, and pebbles, with I think a mixture 

 of comminuted chalk ; in most places parched and arid in the extreme, 



* The common woody nightshade of our hedges (S. Dulcamara) is often called 

 deadly nightshade by the uninformed, and being supposed the genuine plant of that 

 name, has unjustly attributed to it all the virulent properties which belong only to 



the latter. 



f Miss L. Legge, of Hinton Ampner, informs me that these animals devour the 

 leaves of the Atropa with avidity, and strip the plants of their foliage as high as they 

 can reach up the stem to browze upon it. 



