CORRESPONDENCE OF RAY. 



your friendship and society, so wonld it still be some 

 comfort to me to know that I retain a place in your 

 thoughts and esteem, though the meanest. I am, &c. 



Coll. Triu., Feb. 25, 1659. 



Mr. Ray to Mr. Willughby. 



Sir, — On Saturday night last, the 7tli instant, Mr. 

 Skippon and myseK arrived at Cambridge from a long 

 northern expedition, wherein for the most part Ave fol- 

 lowed your footsteps, proceeding just so far as Sterling 

 and retiurning by Glasgow. I gave you in a former letter 

 an account of our design and intention, which whether 

 you received or not I know not. In all this journey I met 

 with but four plants which I had not formerly observed, 

 and in Scotland not one. Those are Fneumonanthe 

 \_Gentiana Fneumonanthe, Linn.], which hath a beautiful 

 blue flower, and is perpetual : it grows plentifully in many 

 heathy and moist grounds in Lincolnshire, and the eastern 

 side of Yorkshire, and flowers about the latter end of 

 August. Sedi alpini parva species \8. aizoides, Linn.], 

 which I have not yet searched out : it hath a yellow flower, 

 and flowers about the beginning of August. This I found 

 only in one small spot of ground about Shap in West- 

 morland. Chrysanthemum majus folio valde laciniato, 

 Jlore croceo, J. B. [Anthemis tinctoria, Linn.], as I judge. 

 This I found in a bank near to the river Tees, in the 

 bishopric of Durham. Lapathum folio acuto flore aureo, 

 C. B. [Rumex maritimus, Linn.], which I had before 

 taken some notice of, when I was less careful and curious 

 in distinguishing of plants. I found likewise, near 

 Huntingdon, a plant which the last year I observed, not 

 far from St. Neots, coming to wait upon you, which 

 puzzles me sore : it is between a Grass and a Caryo- 

 pliyllus, I know not what to call it unless it be Foly- 

 go7io angustissimo folio qffinis, C. B., but I cannot find 

 that described anywhere. I have sent you a little branch 



