CORRESPONDENCE, 
$62 
be considered such, or must the term be given to glands, hairs, stings, &e. ?—- 
Will botanists notice Callitriche , whether it be always monoicous, or whether 
that character depend not upon adventitious circumstances? Nees ab Esenbeck 
says, that in the Spring only it is monoicous, in Summer hermaphrodite.— Zostera , 
too, of what class is it 't—Cladium mariscus , when in cultivation, I have often 
found with three stamens in the central florets. Who can confirm this from obser¬ 
vation ?—Ought not Valeriana rubra to be placed in Nonandria, and called, as 
by De Candolle, Centranthus 2, seeing that it has always one stamen, and agrees 
in structure with Centranthus calcitrapa , which is admitted by all in the first 
class.—Will the botanists of our provinces give us the provincial names and 
superstitious legends of our native plants ? Perhaps Mr. Hall will add the 
former to his excellent contributions; and perhaps that gentleman will also 
supply the derivations of these English names.—Will any one examine Sorbus , 
Pyrus , and Mespilus , with a view to better generic characters, and also to 
ascertaining if any or what analogy exists between the number of stigmas and 
the number of seeds ripened ? 
I remain, 
Yours respectfully, 
London , Jan. 7, 1839. E. W. S. 
Notes on the Month of January, 1839. 
To the Editor of the Naturalist. 
Dear Sir, —Pardon my filling up my paper with a few remarks on the month 
of January, 1839, now expiring, after thirty-one days of most variable weather ; 
the barometer during the time has varied much, and the thermometer ranged “ far 
and wide,” even to the extent of twenty-five degrees in the twenty-four hours. 
The greatest mutation appears to have been on the 29th and 30th. The frosts 
have been so fickle that few water birds have visited our stream (the Wyssey, 
a branch of the Ouse); the usual number of Wild Geese, Ducks, and Whistling 
Plover have been heard and seen to pass over, scarcely any alighting. One 
specimen of the Black Duck, or Scoter ( Anas nigra') , a rarity here, was shot and 
brought to me, in very fine condition, weighing 2 lbs. 10 oz. Altogether this has 
been an unprofitable season to the gunners. 
“ So oft as the Thrush shall ere Candlemas sing, 
So oft ere May-morn shall she drop her wing.” 
Our Throstles have apparently taken the hint, or advised with Mr. Murphy, for 
not one has yet been heard to welcome in the new year (now the 31st). From 
the excellent authority of the late Robert Markham, Esq., this sweet songster 
is past his average time. Mr. M/s remarks for fifty-six years give the medium 
