20 
SHORT NOTES. 
Do Narvrat Hysrips exist ?—I had overlooked the fact of Mr. 
C. B. Clarke’s having again agit to the hybrid question in the 
Journal for last November (p. 822), in his paper on Holoschenus 
Link. His first objection I deny; experimental proof has been 
furnished, in many cases. His second objection carries very much 
more weight ; but the question of what a subspecies is (supposing 
‘“‘subspecies’”’ to be —_ than an expression) complicates that 
part of the subject, and one hardly knows what one has to meet. 
T should not, for exam eahil cme as a hybrid the sapiviieg of a 
species and of a variety of that species. As bearing on this matter, 
I may perhaps be allowed to mention a striking object-lesson. 
While the Rev. E. F. Linton was staying with me last August, we 
found growing upon a railway-bank near Witley, Surrey, several 
plants ‘tntene a te between Verbascum nigrum and V. Thapsus; 
these two species occurring at the same spot. Now, I had carefully 
searched this same locality in vain for oe rig Sm in a 
and am certain that they did not then exist. He would be 
bold man who should — out the fe sopposed patents to 
be “subspecies ” of one aggregate; and I do not think that any 
unprejudiced person en doubt that the EE rsediate was the 
product of fertilisation between them. Why not, then, call them 
(what in point of fact they are) hybrids? Simila rly, I had 
allowed Epilobium lanceolatum and EF. roseum (besides ss other 
species) to spread rather freely in my garden. This summer there 
appeared for the first time two or three specimens _— Sealed 
ing for the phenomena. Had I found the plants in a wild condition, 
the evidence would doubtless have been rhe “satisfactory ; ; but I 
should have felt justified, by a somewhat intimate acquaintance 
wi e two species, in naming them as above. I may add that 
the true species always retain their individoaity, | and can, when 
once known, be distinguished at a glance.—Epwar HAL 
Sanrx Moorzt, Lond. Cat., iw Forrarsume.—In connection with 
Messrs. Linton’s paper on Scottish willows (Journ. Bot. 1892, 
58), I me ae that , which I collected in 
CaREX RHYNCHOPHYSA IN eon i «= Lloyd Praeger has 
been fortunate enough to add this well-marked species to our 
Flora; he found it last August in coanky Armagh. A description 
and plate will appear in our next number 
ASPLENIUM LANCEO Kerr came across a fair 
maount of this fern last wicatiod: not dae an the village of Camp, 
