160 Natural History in the English Counties. 



detached or outlying hills which arise within the vales of Gloucester and 

 Evesham. A sketch of this escarpment, sufficiently exhibiting the subdivi- 

 sions of the strata, may be consulted at p. 252. of the work to which we 

 have referred. The inspection of these fossils recalled to our memory an 

 extraordinary assemblage of similar shells, evidently derived from the same 

 matrix, in a quarry on one of those outlying masses of oolite to which we 

 before alluded, in the same county. We revert to the circumstance, as inte- 

 resting to ourselves, from early associations. It was the first occasion which 

 attracted our attention to these singular depositories of organic remains, and 

 excited an admiration which the experience of 23 years has only served to 

 strengthen, at these wonderful records of a former world. The specimen of 

 bone which Mr. Rose states was discovered near Shipston on Stour is a 

 portion, probably about one third, of a large molar tooth of an elephant, 

 comprising eight plates, forming the centre or middle part of the tooth. It 

 occurred, as we are informed, in a bed of gravel about 10 ft. in depth. This 

 is another instance of the extensive diffusion of the bones of elephants in 

 the diluvium of our island. We thank Mr. Rose for this contribution, 

 because it enables us to compare, to name, and to figure the specimens for 

 the satisfaction of himself, and to the advantage of our geological readers. 

 We are particularly desirous of encouraging similar communications from 

 our country friends. — JR. C. T. Jan. 1830. 



WORCESTERSHIRJE. 



The Cuckoo. — The best place for observing the habits of this bird, in 

 England, is on the range of the Malvern Hills, where they abound, in the 

 season, in extraordinary numbers, making the whole circuit of them resound 

 continually with their note, in a most striking manner ; and flying about, 

 from tree to tree, in a way which would much delight a person fond of 

 natural history. The workmen of the neighbourhood say a bird comes with 

 them, which they call the cuckoo's maid, but I never saw it. — X Y. Dec. 

 23. 1829. 



Plants on the Malvern Hills. — Sir, The Malvern Hills being so well 

 known, fi-om the beautiful prospects they afford, and being the resort of many 

 persons in the summer season, incited, probably, as much by the salubrity of 

 the air as the purity of the waters, perhaps the following list of plants grow- 

 ing on them, or in their vicinity (all gathered or observed by myself, in 

 various excursions), may not be unacceptable. Several I have noted 

 this present season, during a short residence in the neighbourhood for the 

 benefit of my health. 



Plants growing on, or in the immediate vicinity.of, the primitive, granitic, and sienitic chain of 

 the Malvern Hills, stretching nine miles in length from nerth to south, from Leigh Sinton in Wor- 

 cestershire, to Bromsberrow in Gloucestershire ; bounded on the east by the red marl plain of 

 "Worcestershire, and on the north and along the west by the transition limestone of Worcester- 

 shire and Herefordshire* : — 



Enchanter's nightshade (rircje''a luteti&na); blunt-fingered speedwell (Ferdnica triphyllus), at 

 the northern extremity of the Link Common at the foot of the hills ; butterwort (Pinguicula vul- 

 gJlris), in a bog on the western side of the Worcestershire Beacon, but on no other part of the 

 hills ; gipsywort (Lycopus europse^us), in the neighbouring ditches ; cotton-grass (£ri6phorum 

 polystachion), in a bog on the western side of the hills ; mat-grass (tardus stricta), on the com- 

 mons : silver hair-grass (^ira carophyllea) ; tall fescue grass {Festuca gigant^a) ; reed-fescue (jF. 

 calamaria), the last two in woods on the limestone hills north of Malvern ; water blinks (Montia 

 fontana), in plashy rills on the hill ; small teasel (Dipsacuspilbsus) ; woodroof (Asp^rula odorata) ; 

 lady's mantle {Alchemilla vulgaris) ; holly (/'lex ^quifblium), almost covering one of the hills in 

 the southern part of the chain ; tufted water scorpion grass (il/yosbtis caBspitbsa) ; gromwell 

 (Lithospf^rmum officinale); green-leaved hound's-tongue (Cynogl6ssumsylvaticum), in the woody 

 glen at the foot of Warren Hill, near Little Malvern ; bog pimpernel (^nagallis ten611a), mossy 

 bog at the base of the Worcestershire Beacon ; great mullein (Ferbascum TTiipsus), in abund- 

 ance ; moth mullein {V. Blattaria), side of the road to Worcester; thorn apple (Datura Stramo- 

 nium), on waste ground near the church ; henbane (ffyosc^amus niger), in abundance at the 

 base of the hills near the wells ; lesser periwinkle (Finca minor), in a wood on the summit of a 

 limestone hill near Cradley; lesser dodder {Ciiscuta JBpithymum), on the north hill; autumnal 



* Perhaps, at a future time, I may say more on the geology of this district, if not anticipated by 

 an abler correspondent. 



