865 



Sphaeroplioron corapressum. The exposed masses of the ridge are 

 mauy of them curiously dotted with the green adnate fronds of Leci- 

 dea geographica. The reindeer lichen [Cladonia rangiferina), called 

 by Crabbe 



" The vnry moss that whitens all the hill," 



is plentiful on the turf with its allied species, and the sadder and 

 darker Cornicularia, as well as the curious dangling rock-hair {Alec- 

 toria jithata) ; while in every part the brown and scarlet apothecia of 

 the Scyphophori, in all their multiform varieties, contribute to deco- 

 rate the scene. 



The calcareous rocks of the Silurian system at the base of the He- 

 refordshire Beacon, especially on the side of Chance's Pitch, exhibit 

 some local species not observable on the syenitic rocks, as Endocar- 

 pon Hedwigii, Urceolaria calcarea, Lecidea rupestris, Colleraa sinu- 

 atum, &c. The crab's-eye lichen {Lecanora Parella) is particularly 

 fine and abundant throughout the chain from north to south, not only 

 on the rocks, but on ash and other trees about the bases of the hills. 

 I have been particularly attentive to the lichens, and have been as 

 careful as possible to ensure correctness ; though in such minute 

 vegetation, often obscure even to a microscopic eye, it is very diffi- 

 cult to discriminate without some error. The Opegraphae of the 

 section Graphis are named on the authority of the Rev. W. A. Leigh- 

 ton. One lichen that I have met with appears to be undescribed, 

 and I have thus characterised it : — L. chryso-chlora (golden-shielded 

 Lecanora). Crust greenish, indeterminate, scattered, apothecia clus- 

 tered sessile, very small, dull green, with a very thick, inflexed, gold- 

 coloured or light ferruginous border. Scarcely visible to the naked 

 eye but as a number of yellow specks on the exposed rocks ; but 

 under a lens very characteristic and peculiar. 



The lichens form such a crust or time-tint of colour on the hoary 

 rocks of Malvern, that it is impossible for the most superficial eye 

 not to notice and admire them ; and some, as the Stereocaula, appear 

 like silver spangles scattered and clustered in the recesses of the 

 rocks ; though, when closely examined with a lens, these delicate, 

 glaucous-green, granuliferous lichens appear like minute, branching 

 shrubs, beautiful as a mineral efflorescence. Even on the turf the 

 Scyphophori, with their brown and bright scarlet apothecia, under 

 the name of cup-mosses^ are so variable in aspect as to be generally 

 admired and collected, and are often alluded to by the poets of 

 nature, as in the following lines by Mrs. Hemans : — 



VOL. IV. 5 s 



