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This end of the cove, covered with various shrubs, quite contrasts 

 with the bare chaotic aspect of the eastern side, before described. 

 The acclivities rise up gently from the placid sea in tufts of verdure, 

 yet terminate in cliffs that, though bold and broken, seem not like 

 bare riven masses of desolation, but are softened down to the appear- 

 ance of castellated ruins, where time has gently and gradually added 

 a grace with sprinkled ferns, dangling mosses, and dimly-gilded 

 lichens. The view, shut in except towards the sea, inspires thoughts 

 of gentle hermits and eternal seclusion ; until the nettle touch of me- 

 mory quickens the slothful mind, and awakens the dreamer to the 

 realities of life or to botanical investigation. 



On the rocks at the head of Anstey's Cove, I observed a deep na- 

 tural fissure in the limestone, of considerable depth, with several con- 

 nected widening cracks, varying much in breadth, in some places 

 easily stepped across, but in others quite formidable to contemplate 

 and dangerous to stumble into. The chasm was choked up by trees, 

 shrubs, and vegetation of various kinds, and until closely examined 

 did not appear so deep as it really was. " Daddy's Hole," nearer to 

 Torquay, is a wide open chasm of the same description. Such places 

 would seem well adapted to the growth of ferns, but I only saw there 

 such common species as Asplenium Trichomanes, A. Ruta-muraria, 

 and Scolopendrium vulgare, this last being especially abundant in 

 Devonshire. I noticed, however, some very fine plants of Ceterach 

 ofiicinarum growing in crevices of the limestone, to which it was en- 

 tirely confined, notwithstanding the proximity of the red conglomerate 

 and sandstone cliffs at Babbicombe Bay. The rocks at Babbicojnbe, 

 though they have been referred to in our floras, seemed by no means 

 so prolific of species as Anstey's Cove ; but they bore in many places 

 a very profuse investiture of that elegant moss, Neckera crispa. 



I subjoin a list of plants gathered in two excursions to Anstey's 

 Cove, in exemplification of its claims upon the botanical tourist ; but 

 doubtless a resident of the vicinity could greatly increase the catalogue. 



Plants found in Anstey's Cove, near Torquay. 



Thalictrum minus, Arabis hirsuta, Cochlearia Danica, Brassica 

 oleracea. 



Helianthemum polifolium. This elegant plant is stated in our 

 floras to be only found in Britain at Babbicombe, and on Brean 

 Down, Somerset. It presented a beautiful appearance on the rocks 

 forming the eastern side of Anstey's Cove, but was more plentiful still 

 at the curious spot called " Daddy's Hole," nearer to Torquay. 



