1863.] REVIEWS. 477 



work, tlie like to which has not appeared before, we rather wonder at its 

 approach to completeness than at its being capable of improvement." 



The Preston Chronicle. October, 1862. Rambles by the Ribble. 



Sorry are we that there is no room for the lively, amusing 

 descriptions of the scenery about Ribble Head, with the quaint 

 lines from Drayton, an especial favourite of the writer's. The 

 continuous bacon -and-egg breakfasts, dinners, and suppers, ex- 

 tending over long periods, would possibly cause the features of 

 our southerners to relax into a smile ; we would certainly enjoy 

 the change, for chops and steaks are no rarities here ; but a 

 savoury rasher of ham or bacon well broiled with eggs — or per- 

 haps it should be fried (we are not profoundly skilled in the 

 mysteries of Yorkshire cookery) — would be a feast, for we know 

 by experience that the viands there are toothsome and good ; 

 but fourteen breakfasts, etc., on ham and eggs, might put our 

 liking to a sore trial. 



For our part, we should like to read a specimen or example of 

 " chaffing " with Austwick Carles. The Austwick tales, and the 

 legends of the Clapham folks, we hope to see in a fitter vehicle 

 for their transmission or circulation than is now at our disposal. 



" In some of the later rambles there has been nothing notewortliy in 

 botany. On this occasion we were more successful. In the meadows in 

 the neighbourhood of Thorns Gill we found many interesting plants. 

 The Globe-flower {Trollin-s europceiis), the Bird's-eye Primrose {Frimula 

 farinosa), and Water Avens {Geam rlvale) were abundant; the Frog 

 Orchis {Kahenaria viridis) and the Twayblade (Listera ovata) were fre- 

 quent, and the generally scarce small White Orchis (Habenaria albida) 

 almost equally so. In one meadow there was a great quantity of the 

 Dark Plume Thistle {Cardials Jieterophyllits), which plant we also found 

 near Horton, in Kibblesdale, from whence it was sent at the end of the 

 last century, to Sowerby, by a Mr. Bingley. The Wood Crane's-bill 

 {Geranium sylvatlcuni) was also abundant. The great Bistort, or Snake- 

 weed {Polygonum Bistorta) we saw in many places, as well as the giant 

 Bell-flower {Campanula latifolia), the last, of course, not yet in blossom. 

 At Lynn Gill we made no botanical discoveries worth recording. We 

 had not been long on Mouohton before we saw we had got into a rich 

 botanical district. The first plant of note that we met with was the 

 Alpine Bistort {Polycjonum viviparum) growing plentifully below Coom- 

 Combs, or Culms Quarry, as it has been variously spelt. This is doubt- 



