104 



one to be at all considered rare, we observed in the Fens. There was 

 no Osmunda regalis, Lastrea spinosa, or so-called uliginosa, all of 

 which one might have reasonably looked to find, if not also the rare 

 Lastrea cristata, which, had it occurred, need not have svu'jjrised us. 



Such were the fruits of our morning's ramble. I deemed it not a 

 very bad day's botanizing to have gathered some half dozen rare 

 plants Avhich previously I had not met with in a wild state ; two of 

 which, Malaxis Loeselii and Lathyrus palustris, I had never before 

 seen ; not to mention the blossoms of Utricularia, which till that time 

 I only knew from figures and dried specimens ; and these last afford 

 but a very inadequate idea of the beauty of the living flower, which, 

 like the different species of Melampyrum, seems almost invariably to 

 turn black during the process of drying. I offer the above, let it be 

 remembered, not by any means as a perfect list, — far fi'om it, — but 

 rather as a mere sample, of the rarities that are, or were once, to be 

 met with in this interesting locality. As already said, our visit was a 

 most hurried one, " spatiis exclusus iniquis." And it was, too, but 

 a very small portion comparatively, and that (for all I know) not, per- 

 haps, the richest portion of this fenny district that we explored at all. 

 I dare say we quite overlooked many interesting but less conspicuous 

 species. In truth, we found attraction enough in things that were 

 obvious and striking to occupy all our time and attention ; and 

 accordingly did not on this occasion suffer ourselves to get perplexed 

 by the intricate race of Carices, or the not very inviting genus Pota- 

 mogeton, of which, in each case probably, some of the less common 

 species might have rewarded a more diligent and leisurely research. 



Among the plants which I had beforehand confidently calculated 

 to have met with on this occasion, units ahest — the water soldier 

 {Siratiotes aloides). It does grow, however, in the neighbourhood, if 

 not in some parts of the Fens, and in great abundance, as I am in- 

 formed on unquestionable authority, though we were not so fortunate 

 as to fall in with it. I was not without hopes also of finding the 

 curious Conferva segagropila (globe Conferva or moon-balls), had we 

 been able to have seen more of Whittlesea Mere ; for I fancied 1 had 

 heard of its being found there. I conclude, however, that in this no- 

 tion I must have been mistaken, since Copperface, to whom I endea- 

 voured to describe the plant, did not appear ever to have seen or 

 heard of such a thing. 



After returning to Yaxley we parted with our guide, mutually well 

 satisfied, I believe, and pleased with each other's company. No sort 

 of offence or disrespect, let me observe, was intended to be conveyed 



