256 OPHIOGLOSSUM, — BOTRYCHIUM. 



C That is not exactly a Wellington despatch? ^. No — nor 

 much to the purpose! " Bruneburh here or Bruneburh there" — 

 there certainly was once a camp, and I think that the circles we lie 

 upon were made by the soldiers of that camp in relief of idleness. 

 They would lie basking here, like bees, in the sun. %. Pooh ! that 

 explanation won't do : it will not explain wherefore the figures are 

 all uniform and circular : soldiers' fancies do not run in one vein. 

 ^. True — but there was a model to guide them in their work — they 

 were, like children, making a plan of their camp below, — and each 

 trying to excel his neighbour in exactness. ^. A mere get-off! — 

 Danish camps were not circular, at least not this one ; they were 

 earthen mounds thrown up to aid a natural defence, or to give a 

 vantage-point of offence. I cannot but believe that, on the rock 

 before us, we have engraved a plan, or rude map, of the camps of the 

 district which belonged to the aboriginal Britons. From the rock 

 there is a distinct view of the entire Cheviot range, and, on almost 

 every hill-top of them, was once a circular camp, wherein every tribe 

 sheltered themselves from hostile attacks, and whence they issued on 

 a foray. A tribe, pitched where we are standing, would overlook 

 and watch every movement ; and it is natural enough to conclude 

 that some one amongst them, with a taste for the art, might have 

 indulged his skill in making this sketch, — the circles being made to 

 vary in size according to the variation of the camps on the opposed 

 hills. This conjecture, I believe, has suggested itself to others who 

 have examined the rock, — and in especial to the Rev. Wm. Greenfell, 

 to whom I am indebted for the drawing of it ; and it receives con- 

 firmation from the discovery of another rock, vnth sculptures of the 

 same character, not above ten miles southwards, — viz. near unto 

 Bewick. 



25. Ophioglossum vulgatum. Hardy in Ann. and Mag. N. 

 Hist. Ser. 2, iii. 153. Adder' s-Tongue. — B. Rare. Grows in a 

 wood on the side of the Coldstream road, a little north of the road 

 leading to Milne-Graden mains. Near Buskin burn, on Coldingham 

 moor, in a field once cultivated, but now running to moor, J. Hardy. 

 June. 



" For them that are with newts, or snakes, or adders stung. 

 He seeketh out an herb that 's called Adder's-tongue, 

 As Natm'e it ordain'd, its own like hurt to cure, 

 And sportive did herself to niceties inure." — Drayton. 



26. BoTRYCHiuM LUNARiA. |KooixlDort. It occurs, at inter- 

 vals, over the entire range of the Lammermuirs ; and also, in various 

 localities, on the Cheviot hills, as well as on the moors above Kyloe 

 and about Chillingham. Sides of old roads on Penmanshiel moor : 

 moor above Redheugh : St. David's Cairn : old pastures above But- 

 terdean mill, J. Hardy. — Witches, it is very well known, mount the 

 clouds and ride the winds, on broomsticks * ; and we have authority 

 for saying that the Moon-fern made the saddle of their fleet 

 steeds : — 



* " The stunted broom the wenches hide. 



For fear that I should up and ride." — Gay. 



