284 BOTANICAL NOTES, NOTICES, AND QUERIES. [September, 



Last month, July, 1862, we observed that Epllobium angiistifoUum, the 

 French Willow-herb, was well established on theBalham end of Wandsworth 

 Common, and on the Clapham side of the railway. Note. Has any of 

 our Wimbledon or Wandsworth correspondents recently seen Hottonia 

 palustris near Lower Tootino-? 



Our excellent Preston friend, who so kindly supplies us with "Kambles 

 by the Ribble," is hereby informed that his lively graphic notes on anti- 

 quarian, legendary, and botanical subjects are not unread, although some- 

 times not rep]'oduced here. The botany in No. 14 is so small that we 

 have not been able to see it, not even whei\ our spectacles graced the pro- 

 minent feature of our face. We have heard this part of the facial organiza- 

 tion called the "handle of the face." To this nomenclature there is a de- 

 cided objection, viz. that ivaxen noses only can be safely handled in an un- 

 ceremonious or irreverent manner. Descriptions of charming scenery, old 

 halls, homesteads, ancient inscriptions, heirlooms, drinking-horns, etc., 

 are very delightful. Many a time, during our annual peregrinations in 

 July and August, we would not have needed two biddings to elevate the 

 horn of Gisburn Hall, even had the contents been pure water, but suppose 

 the horn charged with claret, our potations would have been long and 

 deep ; due honour to the hospitalities of the hall would have been duly 

 paid. 



The seeds of the presumed Primula elatior have been entrusted to a 

 better situation than the Editor's little plot of garden in Chelsea can afford. 

 In the 'Flora of Essex,' just published, P. elatior is reported as growing 

 in most of the woods around Walden, with P. vulgaris and its variety 

 caulescens ; also about Bardfield, in meadows, accompanied with P. veris, 

 and without P. vulgaris. 1 have the genuine plant from Northumberland. 

 The seeds of Centaurea praietisis, Brebisson, ' Flore de Norraandie,' are 

 also committed to the same safe custody. Mr. Atwood, in his letter, in- 

 forms me that the meadows at Satteville are full of this Knapweed, 

 Tragopogoji orientalis, and Crepis biennis. Our correspondent further 

 states that he sees no difference between this continental form of Centaurea 

 and one equally common in the vale of Gloucester ; from the seeds of the 

 latter, he (Mr. A.) says he produced in Kent the common form of C. nigra. 

 Will our Cheltenham correspondents be so obliging as to look after this 

 Gloucestershire variety and send a report? Some of Mr. Atwood's remarks 

 on this subject and on varieties of Verbascum will appear in another place. 

 To our obliging correspondents of Egham and Richmond, Surrey, our 

 special and hearty thanks are hereby tendered for their proffered kind as- 

 sistance in completing the flora of the metropolitan counties. We rely on 

 local botanists for accurate lists of the vegetation of the remoter parts of 

 the counties of Surrey and Middlesex. 



Adiantum Capillus-Veneris in Suirey. — Only a few days ago (Aug. 1st), 

 intelligence reached us of the discovery of the true Maidenhair Fern,at Ling- 

 field, in Surrey, on the very verge of the county, adjoining on the east to 

 Kent, and on the south to Sussex. We are well aware that this will be by 

 many botanists and pteridologists scouted as one of the grossest of mares' 

 nests ; but as there are several vouchers for the fact, it is confidently given 

 to our readers as genuine. 



Several years ago,— more than twenty, probably nearer thirty, — a young 

 botanist told us he had seen A. Cajnlltfs- Veneris on or about West Hoathly 



