380 EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE. [^December, 



The rarer plants of this place, viz. round about and below 

 the two ponds or reservoirs immediately below the source of 

 the Ravensbourne, are Drosera rohmdifolia, Hypericum Elodes, 

 Narthecium ossifragitrn, Veronica scutellata, Radiola Millegrana, 

 Triodia decumbens, etc. 



On the margin of the lower of these pools (reservoirs?), after 

 scrambling through thorny tangled Briars, prickly Brambles, sharp 

 Gorse, and Pettywhin, we were delighted to find that elegant plant 

 Campanula hederacea; its flowers Avere open, and of such deep 

 azure-blue that we were willing to believe that they were absorb- 

 ing the pure atmosphere of light which surrounded them this fine 

 sunny day. Near this was blooming Scutellaria minor, and in 

 juxtaposition Genista anglica, the bright yellow blossoms of the 

 latter contrasting agreeably with the sober purplish flowers of its 

 humbler associate. Blechmim boreale grew luxuriantly about the 

 edge of a small Sphagnum bog into which we looked in vain for 

 Malaxis paludosa. These are the chief bog plants worth enume- 

 rating, as seen by us ; indeed it is rather to be feared that more 

 than one of the many readers of the ' Phy tologist ' will object to 

 the entry of some of the above-named species, and blame the 

 Editor for giving them so distinguished a place. Though certain 

 of them are rare, they would not have had any place in the his- 

 toric page if it had not been thought requisite to prefer a claim 

 in behalf of the pretty ivy-leaved Campanula, which was fondly 

 conceived to be a discovery. The place where this lovely gem 

 flourishes was believed to be an unrecorded locality. It was 

 thought scarcely becoming that this pretty, modest, azure-hued 

 floweret should a|i[Dear before the public without an escort suita- 

 ble to her distinguished rank in Flora's Court. 



The concomitant plants are not introduced to play the part of 

 foils to enhance the loveliness of their leader ; as prudent matrons 

 hire plain waiting- maids whose charms eclipse not their own; nor 

 as the famous Falstaff" marched gallantly at the head of his lean, 

 ragged regiment through Coventry, his humble followers, lean 

 and shabby, served to increase the portliness^ gallant bearing, 

 and martial equipment of their captain. The bog plants of Kes- 

 ton or Hayes Common are not entered here for such ignoble 

 purposes. 



On the slopes bounding the ravine there grows great abundance 

 of Lycopodiuiii inundatum, and a little higher up as great a num- 



