16 



THE NATURALIST. 



bright sunshine ; and the Brimstone Butterfly ( Gonepterijx Rhamni) fluttered 

 gracefully along. Here, too, the handsome spotted leaves of Orchis mascula 

 were showing themselves plentituUy. 



Crossing the top of the hill, I entered Dane Garden Wood, the trees of 

 which were just budding. Here was a complete undergrowth of Mercurlalis 

 2oerennis, with its insignificant flowers and dark green leaves, the latter of 

 which in drying become a bright metallic blue. The delicate pink cones 

 were just appearing on the larches ; and the Yew ( Taxus haccata ) was in full 

 blossom. Here and there the purple-veined flowers of the Wood-Sorrel 

 ( Oxalls acetosella ) were opening, but as yet sparingly ; while under the 

 shade of the trees the Wood Anemone ( A. nemorosa ) unfolded its starry 

 white blossoms, which are among the loveliest in ISTature's garland. This, 

 like the Calthci, has no true corolla ; ' the sepals form the blossom, and are 

 stated to be six in number : in a little bouquet now before me, fourteen 

 specimens have six sepals, ten have seven, and four eight. A beautiful 

 variety is cultivated in gardens, the stamens of which are converted into 

 small lance-shaped petals. The under-side of the sepals is sometimes colour- 

 less, and at others shaded with pink, or pale blue. As the flower withers 

 the colour deepens : in some cases, however, a pink, or even red tint aff'ects 

 the whole blossom. The Wood Rush ( Luzida sylvatica ) grew here in 

 abundance ; and the Peacock and Tortoiseshell Butterflies (Vanessa lo and 

 Y. Urticce ) occasionally enlivened my path. In this wood Daplme Mezereum 

 had been long reported to grow ; and as my many searches for it were 

 on this day crowned with success, I may perhaps be allowed to make a few 

 remarks upon the occurrence of this plant in Buckinghamshire. 



Professor Martyn, at the end of the last century, stated that D. Mezereum 

 grew " commonly in the woods" about Little Marlow ; but as this statement 

 was never confirmed, it was thought by some that the other species, D. 

 Laureola, was intended. Prom enquiries which myself and others have 

 made on the subject, it would, however, appear that, among the villagers, no 

 plant was better known than this ; known too by the right name, with the 

 occasional variation of "Mezelion," or "Mazalum." In nearl}^ all the woods 

 for some distance round Wycombe, it was reported to have occurred ; but 

 Unfortunately almost every one who had seen the plant growing wild, had 

 transferred it to their gardens, and the gamekeepers in particular had made 

 quite a small harvest of it, being able to dispose of the roots to gardeners 

 and others for a trifling sum. Under these unfavourable auspices it was not 

 surprising that my many searches for D. Mezereum had proved fruitless ; for 



