THE GOLDILOCKS AND 

 WATEK KANUNCULUS. 



Ranunculus auricomm, Ranunculus aquatilis. 

 Nat. Ord., Ranunculacea. 



<OTH the plants represented in the 

 present plate, though very distinct in 

 appearance, belong to the same botanical 

 genus, the goldlilocks being the Ranun- 

 culus auricomus of science, and the 

 water ranunculus the Ranunculus aqua- 

 tilis. Besides the present plants, the 

 buttercup, or bulbous crowfoot, already 

 referred to, and the lesser celandine, 

 which forms the subject of future illus- 

 tration, we have several other indige- 

 nous species, all more or less popularly 

 called buttercups, and all freely to be met 

 with, though some are much more local in 

 their range than others, and are only to be 

 found in the special habitat of the species ; 

 thus the wood ranunculus, so called from its 

 preference for the woodland shades, should be 

 sought for in coppices or sheltered hedgerows ; while it is 

 evident that though the water buttercup may be common 

 enough in a given locality, we shall search for it in vain 

 in the woods or on the open downs or pasture land. 



