663 



gained not a whit less great. Mihi., Nob., Bab., or any other con- 

 traction significant of individual discriminative or creative acumen, 

 would look just as well after a new genus as appended to a spick and 

 span new species, with quite as fair a chance of surviving the attacks of 

 time and controversy as many of the latter are likely to do in the end. 

 We may tamper, if we please, with genera, which Nature hardly owns 

 as of her appointing, but lightly, without grave consideration and 

 careful experiment, to declare forms distinct which she has not sepa- 

 rated by characters of unquestionable permanency, tends only to in- 

 volve the study of plants in inextricable error and confusion. 



X Melissa officinalis. Naturalized occasionally on dry banks and 

 by streams in the county and Isle of Wight. It has been announced 

 to me as growing in Sandy Lane, betwixt Whitecroft and Blackwater, 

 near Newport, but I have failed to find it there. On a bank under a 

 garden wall at Arreton, not a hundred yards from the church. In the 

 wide area of Porchester Castle, in considerable quantity, but noticed 

 in one spot only, apparently a very old station, 1848. Very sparingly 

 by the stream-side below Selborne church, September 17th, 1848. 

 I did not observe it again this year, but was at no pains to look very 

 closely for it amongst the herbage, which perhaps concealed it from 

 view. 



Scutellaria galericulata. On the banks of rivers, streams and 

 ditches, the shallow margins of ponds and swampy ground, and in 

 wet woods and thickets. Not very frequent in the Isle of Wight. In 

 various parts of Sandown Level, along the drains or ditches, and by 

 the stream that flows through it towards Brading, called the East Yar; 

 nowhere in any great plenty, but most abundant a little below How- 

 ingford Bridge. Near Rockley farm, sparingly. With stems quite 

 weak and reclining, in a wet copse near Whitefielcl farm, about what 

 was at one time a pool, called the Swan pond, now dried up. Near 

 Ninham farm, by Ryde. Near Blackwater Mill, above Newport. At 

 West Mill, between Newport and Carisbrook; Miss Dennet (ex icone). 

 Apparently not very common on the mainland of the county. Short 

 Heath, near Selborne. I have found it here and there in other parts 

 of Hants, but have omitted to record the stations, and do not like to 

 quote from memory. Near the Andover Marsh Gate, and in watery 

 meadows at the bottom of Primrose Hill ; Mr. Wm. Whale. 



minor. In low, moist, heathy, boggy or muddy places, 



wet woods, sides of meadow-dains, ditches, and on damp tillage-land; 

 not uncommon in the Isle of Wight, and I believe over the county ge- 

 nerally. In Whitfield Wood, near Ryde. Frequent on many parts 



