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NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 
LETTER XLI. To the Hon. DAINES BARRINGTON 
DEAR SIR, Selhorne, July 3, 1778. 
In a district so diversified with such a variety of hill and dale, 
aspects, and soils, it is no wonder that great choice of plants 
should be found. Chalks, clays, sands, sheep-walks and downs, 
bogs, heaths, woodlands, and champaign fields, cannot but fur- 
nish an ample Flora. The deep rocky lanes abound with Jilices, 
and the pastures and moist woods with fungi. If in any branch 
of botany we may seem to be wanting, it must be in the large 
aquatic plants, which are not to be expected on a spot far removed 
from rivers, and lying up amidst the hiU country at the spring 
heads. To enumerate all the plants that have been discovered 
within our limits would be a needless work ; but a short list of 
the more rare, and the spots where they are to be found, may be 
neither unacceptable nor unentertaining ; — 
Helleborus fcetiduSy stinking hellebore, bear's foot, or setter- 
wort, all over the High- wood and Coney- croft-hanger : this con- 
tinues a great branching plant the winter through, blossoming 
about January, and is very ornamental in shady walks and 
shrubberies. The good women give the leaves powdered to 
children troubled with worms ; but it is a violent remedy, and 
ought to be administered with caution. 
Helleborus viridis, green hellebore, — in the deep stony lane on 
the left hand just before the turning to Norton-farm, and at the 
top of Middle Dorton under the hedge : this plant dies down to 
the ground early in autumn, and springs again about February, 
flowering almost as soon as it appears above ground. 
Vaccinium oxycoccos, creeping bilberries, or cranberries, — in 
the bogs of Bin's-pond ; 
Vaccinium myrtillus, whortle, or bilberries,— on the dry hil- 
locks of Wolmer-forest ; 
Drosera rotundifolia, round-leaved sundew i In the bogs of 
longifolia, long-leaved ditto S Bin's pond. 
Comarum palustre, purple comarum, or marsh cinque foil, — in 
the bogs of Bin's pond ; 
Hypericum androscBmum^ Tutsan, St. John's Wort, — in the 
stony, hollow lanes ; 
Vinca minor, less periwinkle, — in Selborne-hanger and Shrub- 
wood ; 
