A DAY AT CLIFTON. 



65 



their ignoring all but the most prominent characters ; and partly from a 

 want of well authenticated specimens of other authors for comparison. 

 I regret that I am also in a great measure subject to the latter want in 

 my own remarks, though not altogether so, as will appear in the sequel. 

 In comparing the specimens I have by me, and descriptions as above 

 given, I have been somewhat surprised at the great variation in some of 

 the characters ; more particularly in the size, shape, and hairiness of the 

 leaves and petioles, and in the villosity of the peduncles. Most of mv 

 specimens have the leaves more or less hairy on both sides, one form 

 only of oxyacantlioides, from Algeria having them glabrous on both sides. 

 The direction of the nerves however seems a very persistent character, 

 being always convergent in those species labelled oxyacantha or oxyacan- 

 thoides, and divergent in those named monogyna. The hairiness of the 

 sepals seems also a more persistent character in separating the two prin- 

 cipal forms than that of the peduncles. 



(To he continued.) 



A DAY AT CLIFTON. 



On a hot and sultry day in May in company with my indefatigable 

 friend, Mr. W. Nelson, I found myself on the far famed Durdham Downs 

 near Bristol. They are rather extensive and picturesq^ue, being sprinkled 

 with trees, chiefly hawthorn which appear as though enveloped in merry 

 mantles, from the profusion of their flowers, while the numerous roads 

 that intersect the Downs are sheltered from the sun's rays by large timber 

 trees. 



In some hollow places we found by diligent searching Pujpa umhilicata, 

 Clausilia rugosa, Helix caperata, and its distinctly marked variety ornata. 



A quarry by the roadside lay temptingly before us, but our captures 

 at it were but meagre. Helix hispida, Helix caperata, Helix nemomlis and 

 the variety hyhrida. 



We then crossed the downs to Clifton, and descended the hill to the 

 river, by a footpath embowered with trees, its coolness being grateful and 

 refreshing, from contrast with our walk across the downs under the rays 

 of the hot sun. 



On reaching the river side we went towards the Suspension Bridge at 

 Clifton, as we approached it, the cliffs became more prominent and inacces^ 



