192 EPIPACTIS. USTERA. 



the treasures of our herbariums ; we had sought there, many a time 

 and oft, to find some rare and novel herblet to encircle a halo round 

 our names, and give a celebrity to our favourite stream, — in vain ; — 

 and it is impossible for us to believe that the Anacharis could have 

 escaped our keen and well-directed search. I assume the very recent 

 colonization of the Hen-poo and of the Whiteadder by the Anacharis 

 to be a fact, — whatever that fact may be worth ; and could we conclude 

 with Mr. Babington, that the Whiteadder plant is specifically distinct 

 from the Udora canadensis of the lakes and rivers of North America, 

 we should adduce it in proof of a belief of Humboldt's, that whilst 

 some plants become more and more rare, and finally disappear, other new 

 vegetable forms spring from the ground after long intervals of time 

 to supply the vacant places. Views of Nature, p. 295*. But as both 

 British and American botanists seem now to agree in considering the 

 British and American Anacharis as identical in species, — a conclusion 

 strengthened by the circumstance that fertile plants only have been 

 found in this country, — the theory of successive deaths and creations 

 becomes, perhaps, unnecessary ; and fancy is left at freedom to carry 

 the plant over the wide Atlantic on the wings of birds, or in ships, 

 and their various importations. Yet she flies hampered with doubts 

 and difficulties. The water birds of the Hen-poo and of the White- 

 adder have but short flights to make when they visit the Tweed and 

 the Till, the Leet and the Eye ; but they have carried the Anacharis 

 to none of these waters ; nor has the daily traffic from the Whiteadder 

 to all surrounding parts in the district, tended in any way to diffuse 

 the plant. 



1. Epipactis LATiFOLiA. Rare. B. The Hirsel and Castlelaw 

 woods, Miss E. Bell and Miss Hunter. — R. Woods about the Fleurs, 

 Dr. F. Douglas. 



2. E. pALusTRis. Rare. B. On Lamberton and Coldingham 

 moors, A. A. Carr. The habitat at Marshall meadows is destroyed, 

 as well as one near Lamberton Shiels. — D. Haiden dean. — N. In the 

 pond-field above Spindlestone. July. 



3. LisTERA ovATA. CSoap^JSlaSt. Woods and rough pastures, 

 not uncommon. D. In Haiden dean. In great profusion in the 

 plantations about the mansion-house of Lowlynn. On Holy Island 

 links. Dr. F. Douglas. — B. Woods below Claribad mill ; and at 

 Broadmeadows. Banks of the Eye at Coveyheugh, A. A. Carr. In 

 Blackbum-rigg wood : in marshy spots on the sea-banks between 

 Redheugh and Dulaw : and in a plantation near Milne-Graden, 

 J. Hardy. Blackadder plantations. In a meadow near Oxendean 

 above Cumledge : &c. July. — The leaves of this singular plant are 

 sometimes placed one above the other, and they are liable to many 

 deviations from their usual shape. Mr. Hardy has sent me a speci- 

 men in which the flower-stalk (fivides into two perfect spikes. There 

 is some correspondency between the Tway-Blade and Hart's-tongue 

 in their wiUingness to sport into monstrosities. 



* See, on this interesting question, Schouw's work entitled " The Earth, 

 Plants, and Man," p. 24. Lond. 1852. 



