376 BIRMINGHAM NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION. [December, 



in twenty years. There is thus much undergrowth^ and little 

 leaf-mould by means of which the soil might be enriched ; and 

 hence there is a paucity of species. The principal rare species of 

 plants found upon this occasion were the following, namely : — 

 Geranium sylvaticum (Wood Crane's-bill), G.sanguineum (Bloody 

 Crane's-bill), Campanula patula (Spreading Harebell), Vicia syl- 

 vatica (Wood Vetch), Melica nutans (Mountain Melic-grass) , 

 Pyrus domestica (true Service-tree), P. torminalis (wild Service- 

 tree). Here also grows that pensive but chaste little plant, a 

 favourite with lovers, Convallaria majalis (the sweet-scented Lily- 

 of- the- valley), Carlina vulgaris (the Carline Thistle), Gymna- 

 denia conopsea (the sweet-scented Orchis), Saponaria officinalis 

 (the Soapwort), the remarkable plant called Stone-seed [Litho- 

 spermum arvense), and also the well known Buckwheat [Polygo- 

 num Fagopyrum) , together with Aquilegia vulgaris (Columbine), 

 Jasione montana (Sheep's-bit), Luzula sylvatica (Great Hairy 

 Wood-rush), Nepeta Cataria (Catmint, or Nep), Corydalis lutea 

 (Yellow Fumitory), Campanula Trachelium (Nettle-leaved Bell- 

 flower), Campanula hederacea (Ivy-leaved Bellflower), Tilia par- 

 vifolia (Small-leaved Lime), Carex pendula (the great Pendulous 

 Carex), Allium oleraceum (Field Garlic), Calamintha Clinopo- 

 dium (Wild 'Rosnl) , Hypericum Androscemum (Tutsan), Verbascum 

 Thapsus (Mullein), Lactuca virosa (Strong-scented Lettuce), Ori- 

 ganum vulgare (Marjoram), and others of interest, amounting in 

 all to thirty- seven species, of more or less rarity, found on the 

 occasion. 



The bog near Coleshill, until lately freely open to the public, 

 is a locality of considerable interest to the naturalist, and a list 

 of its more rare vegetable productions is given by Purton. To 

 this place the members of the Association lately paid a visit, by 

 the special permission of the Rev. Mr. Digby, of Coleshill. The 

 bog near the pool is covered with rank Grass and Rush, and the 

 surface is so irregular, from the growth of the Mat- grass and 

 other plants, in tufts and hillocks, as to make locomotion a mat- 

 ter of considerable difficulty. As might be expected, this place 

 forms an excellent cover for the snake and the adder, or viper. 

 Hardly a step had been taken before two of the latter species — 

 the viper — were met with. A little excitement and activity, and 

 these most beautiful but dangerous animals were pinned down to 

 the ground, by means of forked sticks, and their poison-fangs 



