myself. For the last three years I have been unable to do as much as I could wish, and this must be the excuse for the meagreness of the collection, and also for the large proportion of plants being from division IV. Those for division I. have also been collected by my self, as Marlborough is just near enough to the northern boundary of that division to enable me to collect there occasionally. The Herbarium is still unfit to be considered in any way a county Herbarium, and I should therefore thankfully acknowledge the receipt of any contributions to it. It is clearly impossible for one person to do all this work of collecting, and as will be seen from the subjoined Table, some districts are very poorly represented, if indeed they can be considered to be represented at all. Total No. of Species represented, 598 No. of Sheets of Specimens. 105 57 158 115 613 Species represented. Division I., S.E. 103 II., S.M. 55 III., S.W. 156 IV., N.W. 107 V., N.E. 473 It will be seen that the same species is sometimes represented in more than one division, I shall be happy to send a marked list to anyone who may feel inclined to assist: but still it may be interesting to know some of the more important species which are not at all represented : Petroselinum segetum Galium erectum Lactuca virosa Hieracium umbellatum Carduus pratensis Senecio viscosus orontium Orobanche Hederæ Mentha piperita Calamintha Nepeta Melittis Melissophyllum Marrubium vulgare Myosotis cæspitosa Pulmonaria officinalis Pinguicula lusitanica Utricularia vulgaris minor A U Hottonia palustris Samolus Valerandi Chenopodium olidum C hybridum Daphne Mezereum Asarum europæum Euphorbia Lathyris Mercurialis annua My only fear in publishing this list, long as it is, is that it may lead intending contributors to imagine that the above are all that are required. The fact is, that of Erythræa Centrurium alone are there representatives from each of the five divisions. I have merely indicated those species of which we have no representatives at all, and which cannot be easily procured near Marlborough, but as will be seen from the Table above given, every division is most inadequately represented, and I can only repeat that I shall gladly enter into correspondence with anyone who is anxious to help in the work. In conclusion and as an encouragement to intending contributors, a few of the more interesting points of the collection, as already formed, may be mentioned. What are called the Batrachian Ranunculi will, I trust, be well represented, and of these I shall unhesitatingly insert all good specimens which may be sent. They are the water-plants which cover the ponds in early summer with their white flowers, and present a great variety of forms. The collection already possesses several very interesting forms, and some of the species not recorded in Mr. Flower's "Flora." The ponds in which they grow often dry up in summer, yet the plants are not destroyed, but re-appear when there is sufficient water in the spring. A series from a succession of ponds on the Overton Downs will interest those who are paying attention to the subject. Specimens of Thlaspi perfoliatum, Sinapis muralis, Silene noctiflora, Caucalis daucoides, Carduus tuberosus, Cineraria campestris, Monotropa Hypopitys, Polemonium cæruleum, Orobanche elatior, Euphorbia platyphylla, Ornithogalum pyrenaicum, Alopecurus fulvus, together with some Rubi and Salices not recorded in the "Flora," will also be found, some of them quite new to the county, and not known hitherto to occur so far south. Still these are but very few of the rarities of Wiltshire, which I hope to increase ere many months have passed. T. A. PRESTON. Regulations of Admission to Museum and Library. HE Museum and Library are open on week days; from ten to five, from 1st April to 30th September, inclusive; and from Ten to Four, from 1st October to 31st March, inclusive. Members of the Society are admitted free to both the Museum and Library at all times when open, and have the privilege of personally introducing to the Museum, without payment, any members of their families residing with them. Persons who are not Members are admitted to the Museum on payment of sixpence each; or by tickets, which may be obtained from the attendant, in packets of ten at half-a-crown the packet. All visitors, whether Members or otherwise, to write their names in the book kept for the purpose. H. F. & E. BULL, Printers and Publishers, Devizes. |