1880] Letters on Welsh Botany. 279 



of De Candolle contains a characteristic reference to the 

 question whether its seed might have been sown "by some 

 Redwing or Fieldfare migrating from Norway." And when 

 in 1865 he paid his first visit to the Head itself, there had 

 been a long and exhaustive search along the ledges, 

 prompted by a hope that some of the less accessible 

 spots might prove to contain hitherto undiscovered patches 

 of Cotoneaster. Now it seemed but too probable that in 

 a short time the solitary spot which it inhabited would 

 know it no more. On his next visit he scarcely dared even 

 to look at the plant ; but that was a year later. 



Returning to Dublin on September 25th, he had quite a 

 feast of " vegetable food " to ruminate over. Mr. Griffith 

 sent him a fresh supply of the Potamogeton, which con- 

 tinued as great a problem as ever. 



Sept. soth, 1880. 



MY DEAR SIR, Thank you very much for so kindly sending the 

 specimens of Potamogeton lanceolatus, which I was very glad to see 

 again ; but I am sorry to say that I cannot find any mature fruit. The 

 plant must be a very late flowerer, or perhaps does not perfect its seeds. 

 At any rate, all the flowers which I dissected have only furnished quite 

 immature fruit, with the stigma still quite fresh. I shall be curious 

 to hear what Professor Babington will say. At any rate we are very 

 much indebted to you for undertaking so long a journey. Did you 

 have time to trace the plant up stream to the marsh or lake from which 

 it starts ? I cannot help thinking that you will find it in some other 

 localities, as there did not seem to be anything peculiar about the little 

 river where you showed us the plant ..... I had a pleasant holiday, 

 staying at my father's at Malvern, but no more botany since the after- 

 noon we spent on Orme's Head ; and here I must not forget to thank 

 you once more for the valuable help you so kindly gave us. 



October ijth, 1880. 



DEAR BABINGTON, I most carefully examined under microscope 

 the heads of a large number of specimens of P. lanceolatus which Mr. 

 Griffith was kind enough to send me at the same time as to you, with 

 the same unsatisfactory results. I could only find the youngest rudi- 

 ment of fruit, smaller even than the fresh stigma. Mr. Griffith tells me 

 he has some idea of going again at end of this month. Surely it is 

 singular if none of the flowers which we saw in August should be fertile. 

 We have a plant growing in a pan at Glasnevin. I daresay you have 

 looked at the figures of Cineraria in Reichenbach, Ic. Erit. There is one 

 there which he calls "var. procera," fig. 254, No. 132 of vol. II., which 



