XXIV PREFACE. 



from GERARDE'S Historic of Plants, a book in which the bota- 

 nical student will find much matter of amusement, and some- 

 times an excellence of description rare even in modern works, 

 though expressed in a quaint manner and antiquated style. 

 Various other works have been resorted to, and if riot particu- 

 larly quoted, the circumstance of their being in common use 

 would rebut the charge of any intentional plagiarism. 



To Mr WINCH of Newcastle I am greatly indebted for his 

 communications, and for the liberal manner in which he per- 

 mitted me to submit to his inspection every species concerning 

 which I could entertain a doubt. I was thus enabled to cor- 

 rect several errors into which I had fallen. In common with 

 all who have attempted to illustrate the natural history of 

 Scotland, I have experienced the kindness of Mr NEILL, of 

 whose remarks I have had frequent occasion to avail myself. 

 To my friends Dr JAMES THOMPSON, now of Jamaica, and 

 WILLIAM BAIRD, Esq. surgeon, my grateful acknowledgments 

 are due for their communications ; but in a particular manner 

 they are due to the Rev. A. BAIRD, whose contributions have 

 been numerous and interesting, and with whose company I 

 was favoured in several excursions made from " the love of 

 Nature's works," and in quest of them, and which, when I 

 see them spread out in the Herbarium, what are they but 

 proofs, 



" That man, immur'd in cities, still retains 

 His inborn inextinguishable thirst 

 Of rural scenes, compensating his loss 

 By supplemental shifts, the best he may** 



