WILD FLOWERS AT HOME AND ABROAD. 133 
calities connected with colour-printing ” have not prevented 
M. Correvon from following the usual sequence of the natural 
orders, and the letterpress is simply descriptive of the more 
conspicuous and frequent plants of the regions named. 
Some time since we recommended an admirable book — 
Gremli’s Flora of Switzerland — to botanists who were taking their 
summer holiday in the Alps. M. Correvon’s little volume will 
supply to the traveller who takes a casual interest in wild 
flowers almost as much useful information as the more scientific 
manual gives to the botanist, and will even form a suitable 
stepping-stone to its employment. 
We must not, however, conclude this paper without making 
a special appeal to Selbornian and other flower-lovers, both at 
home and abroad, to be moderate in the toll they take of the 
plants they meet with in their rambles. We dwelt upon this 
at some length in our issue for July, 1892, and as the caution 
is not needed less now than it was then, we will repeat what was 
then said, for the benefit of recent subscribers : — 
“ Perhaps the wild flowers, both at home and abroad, are in 
most need of protection, as they are the most defenceless against 
the attacks of depredators. The botanist is not always discreet, 
especially if his zeal for collecting is greater than his love for 
science ; but after all he is the least dangerous of the enemies 
the flowers have to encounter. There is the fern-grubber, for 
instance, both amateur and professional ; there are the young 
ladies — we have seen them in Switzerland — who trudge down 
from the mountains with baskets and handkerchiefs crammed 
with flowers, or rather with plants, which is far worse. Little 
harm, indeed, is done by plucking flowers, but towards the 
top of the mountains, where the Gentians, Androsaces, and the 
like, gain but slender roothold among the loose stones, and are 
more easily pulled up than gathered, serious mischief may be, 
and is, done. Remember, ladies, that these delicate and fragile 
little flowers are not very likely to grow, even if you take them 
back to England with you, which you very seldom do.” 
The Editor. 
The Nightingale. — A pair of nighlingales arrived hereabout the beginning 
of May, this being the first year they have ever made their appearance in these 
parts. It must have been the unusual warm spring that tempted them to come so 
far north. They built their nest in the garden in a low hedge of thorns ; the nest 
was the smallest possible little structure made of twigs and grass, &c. , and five 
sggs were laid. The cock bird sung beautifully all the time the hen was sitting, 
but as .soon as the eggs were hatched he only sung an occasional note now and then. 
The parents were most energetic in feeding their young, and took it in turns to sit 
on the nest ; the moment one bird returned with a tempting morsel the other 
immediately left the nest and went off in search of more food, so it was one per- 
petual going backwards and forwards. 
Derbyshire. 
A. K. M. 
