Of the tributaries of the Colne system, the most important is the Ver (or Verlume), which rises some distance to the east of Cheverell’s Green, on the Watling Street, and passes through the village of Flamstead, and thence near the line of the high road to Redbourn, where it is joined by an intermittent stream, or “bourne,” known as the Wenmer, or Womer. The latter crosses the road from Harpenden to Redbourn at the foot of a steep descent; and in the old days its appearance as a running stream was believed to forbode a death, or “some extremity of dangerous import.” From Redbourn the Ver continues its course by way of Shafford Mill, at which place it crosses the high road, to St Albans, where it passes between the present city and the ruined walls of ancient Verulam, to which latter it is generally believed to have given its name. Thence its course is continued through the old nunnery of Sopwell (of which it supplied the extensive fish-ponds), and from that point it flows through Park Street to join the Colne near Colney Street; the latter stream giving the name to the united rivers, although the Ver is considerably the larger of the two constituents. The Colne itself rises in the neighbourhood of Tittenhanger, between St Albans and Hatfield, and passes through London Colney on its way to join the Ver. Near Watford the Colne receives an important tributary in the shape of the Gade, which issues from the chalk in the meadows of Great Gaddesden (to which and Gadebridge it gives the name), and after passing through Hemel Hempstead and Nash Mills, is joined at Two Waters by the Bulbourne. The latter rises at Tring very close to the Bulbourne source of the Thame (the watershed being here very narrow), and runs by way of the Frith, Dagnalls, Aldbury Meads, Dudswell Bottom, and North Church to the north-east side of Berkhampstead, where its volume is increased by two important springs, and thence to Two Waters. There is also an intermittent stream known as the Hertfordshire Bourne, which, when running, flows into the Bulbourne about halfway between Berkhampstead and Boxmoor. It is reported--and apparently correctly--to flow on the average once in every seven years; the point from which it flows may be higher up or lower down in the valley according to the amount of water discharged. Below Two Waters the Gade (as the united stream is now called) passes through Kings Langley, Hunton Bridge, and Cassiobury Park to join the Colne between that park and Watford. After skirting the north side of Moor Park immediately below the last-named town, the Colne receives the Chess (giving the name to Chesham, in Buckinghamshire), which passes through Sarratt in our own county. The Colne then reaches Rickmansworth, where it forms the boundary between Buckinghamshire and Middlesex, and thence flowing by way of Uxbridge and Colnbrook, discharges itself into the Thames above Staines, after a course of about thirty-five miles.