875 



present season, since they are all genuine spring flowers. In December 

 we found a solitary flower of Viola sylvatica. Jan. 10, Tussilago Far- 

 fara, in flower. Jan. 21, Mercurialis perennis, and by the end of the 

 month plenty in flower ; Caltha palustris, several in flower, and many 

 in bud, with quite an April luxuriance ; Narcissus Pseudo-narcissus, 

 twenty or thirty in flower. Jan. 31, Cerastium tetrandrum, in flower; 

 Alchemilla arvensis (young plants), in flower; and on the same day 

 (Jan. 31) we were no less pleased than surprised to find our little 

 friend of last March, Draba verna, mostly with only a flower or two, 

 scarcely raised above the leaves, but in a few cases even in seed, on 

 its usual stem." 



The following remarks, by Mr. I. W. N. Keys, dated Plymouth, 

 Jantiary 25, 1853, and referring to the same subject, were read : — 



" At this season of the year little can be said in the way of adorn- 

 ing a botanical ramble. I vsill therefore ' a plain unvarnished tale 

 deliver,' and say that yesterday, being a fine day, 1 strolled, with ano- 

 ther of Flora's votaries, to Weston Mills, which are situated about 

 two miles from Plymouth, believing that, from the extreme mildness 

 of the winter, Helleborus viridis, which grows in an old orchard at 

 the first-named place, would be in flower. And such was the case : 

 we gathered several examples. Besides this, in the same piece of 

 ground, snowdrops [Galanthus nivalis), in large number, were droop- 

 ing their graceful heads in beauty around us. What a charming 

 flower is this ! and how much is its loveliness enhanced by its early 

 appearance, ere yet the winter has departed I The Narcissus Pseudo- 

 narcissus, neighbour to the snowdrop, had not yet progressed beyond 

 the bud condition ; but it will very soon burst from its ' pent-house.' 

 A solitary primrose {Primula vulgaris) gleamed here and there. The 

 pilewoi't {Ranunculus Ficarig) was also unfolding its enamelled golden 

 petals ; and Mercurialis perennis was in bloom. All the foregoing 

 were found within the precincts of the orchard. Dandelions, daisies, 

 groundsel, and that little grass, Poa annua, were seen frequently dur- 

 ing our walk, all in flower, of course ; otherwise, they would not be 

 named. The leaves of Cotyledon Umbilicus were extremely abun- 

 dant, and very large ; a circumstance attributable, I presume, to the 

 very wet season which we have had. Vinca minor (lesser periwinkle) 

 was trailing beautifully over a road-side hedge near Ham, and bedeck- 

 ing it with its delicate purple flowers. In this situation the plant ap- 

 pears perfectly wild. Here and there, in low and sheltered spots, a 

 Geranium Robertianum had outlived the ' pelting of the pitiless storm,' 



