54 



HA RD WICKE'S SCIENCE- G OS SI P. 



NOTES ON THE NATURAL HISTORY OF 

 JERSEY. 



By Edward Lovett. 



[Continued from ^age 38.] 



Land Plants and Animals. 



THE title of this paper suggests such a wide and 

 exhaustive subject, that it is well to disclaim 

 at once any attempt on the part of the writer to do 

 more than refer to localities and species of particular 

 interest, or to incidents as to the occurrence of speci- 

 mens likely to commend themselves to the natural 

 observer. 



As we have briefly glanced at the general outline 

 and geological features of Jersey, we will next notice 

 the plants, to the existence of which, its small, but 

 diversified surface affords favourable localities. 



As might naturally be expected from its general 

 position, the richness of its soil and its breezy head- 

 lands, sheltered slopes and warm damp valleys, the 

 botany of Jersey is rich and varied ; in fact, to refer 

 to a custom among the farmers there, so dense and 

 luxuriant is the growth of pasture that Jersey cattle 

 are always tethered, when grazing, in order that they 

 shall not damage their food by trampling down more 

 than they consume. 



With regard to trees, nothing very important pre- 

 sents itself. The island was at an early period densely 

 wooded, but of late years the demand for ground for 

 cultivation has rendered it necessary to destroy an 

 enormous number ; still, there are many bits of 

 sylvan beauty left, although all the trees that are at 

 all exposed present the appearance usually seen in 

 districts near the sea, particularly when subject to 

 the prevailing south-westerly gales ; they are stunted 

 in growth, principally on the windward side, and bend 

 towards the north-east, giving all the appearance of 

 being under the influence of a strong wind even on a 

 calm day. 



The shrubs are better able to develope, and in 

 favourable localities tend to add much to the subhme 

 beauty of many parts of the island. 



The plants of Jersey are interesting, inasmuch as 

 many very rare species occur, and the existence of 

 rare plants in an island is particularly so, as it is 

 there that the last stand of a dying-out species may 

 be made. 



We are indebted to Mr, Piquet, of St. Helier's, for 

 some valuable notes as to the occurrence of species 

 in special localities, and from which we have arranged 

 the following. 



On marshy ground, such' as occurs above the dis- 

 trict of St. Aubin towards St. ,Ouen, where the 

 nature of the rock causes somewhat imperfect 

 drainage, may be found Ncottia astivalis, Cladiiiin 

 mariscHs and Rajiunculus ophioglossifolms. 



On syenitic localities such as St. Brelade, occur 

 Hypcrkum Unartifoliitm and Hypochceris viaculata. 



whilst upon the clay slates of St. Peter, and similar 

 spots, grow Sileiie viaritima and S. nutans. 



The rich soil formed by the decomposition of 

 syenite is favourable to Spergzila suhidata and Brassica 

 chciranthus, whilst in the wet soil of the valley deposits 

 grows Hypericum qiiadrangnliim, and where this is of 

 a sandy nature, Cicendia filiformis. 



On breezy headlands may be found Helianthenmm 

 guttatiim, and in thickets Serratitla tindoria. 



Euphorbia peplis, Matlhiola sinna(a,Lagurus ovatus, 

 and Rapha^ms maritinms occur on sandy localities 

 such as that of St. Ouen's Bay, as also Gorey. As 

 regards the former place, the following additional 

 plants are to be met with : Echium violaceum, Armcria 

 plantagi)tea, Cyperiis longiis, Centaiirea Jsnardi, C. 

 paiiiciilata and Sinapis incana. 



The curious Cotyledon umbilicus is to be met with 

 commonly on old walls, rough rock surfaces and 

 detritus ; and the dodder, Cuscicta epit/iymitm, spreads 

 its curious web over the gorse. 



The ferns of Jersey are no doubt familiar to most 

 persons who have visited the island, but it is probable 

 that not only many species, but also many interesting 

 facts connected with them, may have altogether 

 escaped general observation. 



There are many species that love limestone districts, 

 that are either very rare or altogether wanting in the 

 island ; Ceterach officinarum, for example, is rare, 

 occurring only in the parishes of St. Lawrence and 

 St. Clement, whereas in some English localities it is 

 extremely abundant. Scolopendrium vulgare, on the 

 contrary, is common, and forms quite a feature in the 

 beautiful shady tree-arched lanes. Adiatitum Capillus- 

 Vencris has been found, but is very rare ; Aspleniiim 

 Adiantum-nig}-um and A. lanccolatum are to be found 

 plentifully on banks and rough granite walls ; the 

 former is more common in the eastern part of the 

 island, thinning off towards the western, whilst the 

 latter is more common in the western half, thinning 

 off towards the east ; in the middle of the island 

 both occur fairly divided : as A. lanccolatum delights 

 in a dry breezy locality, this, no doubt, accounts for 

 its ' being so abundant on the high ground from 

 St. Aubin right across to L'Elac. 



This species presents many well-marked varieties 

 that do not seem to have been at all worked out : 

 one very peculiar one was found at Bouley Bay by 

 Mr. J. Sinel, of Bagot, and recorded. 



Asplcnium juarinum is chiefly found on the north 

 coast, owing to the numerous caves and rock fissures 

 that occur in that part of the island, and where also 

 the prevailing strong winds are not able to reach 

 it. Here it is that magnificent clumps of this 

 beautiful fern, sometimes with fronds over two feet 

 in length, may be seen growing far out of human 

 reach ; indeed it is often a subject of conjecture how 

 the spores could be lodged in the roof of a cavern 

 apparently only accessible from the sea, unless they 

 were washed there by the waves, which in rough 



