430 NORFOLK BOTANY. [February, 



for Ferns. He further asserted that he knew of no other bogs ; 

 and no doubt he told us the truth, as he appeared to be inte- 

 rested in maintaining the ancient reputation of the place, for he not 

 only very politely conducted us to the chief pits, but went into the 

 spongy swamps to gather anything which we pointed out as de- 

 sirable. It was not his fault that we did not light upon the 

 proper spot, and enjoy the pleasure of collecting the proper 

 plants. 



Before we left Yarmouth for St. FaitFs, due inquiry was 

 made about the present condition of these once -celebrated bo- 

 tanical localities ; and though we were advised to go to another 

 part of the country, viz. to Flotman or Flordon, we were also in- 

 formed that St. FaitVs bogs were in statu quo, viz. as they were 

 in the times of Sir T. Brown and Sir J. E. Smith ; and our be- 

 lief now is, that we have not seen the proper bogs at St. Faith's. 

 This is a discovery which it is humbly hoped some enter- 

 prising botanist will make, and he shall be duly crowned with 

 the laurel, and have his heels invested or armed with the botanical 

 spurs — the trophies of success. 



The few plants we saw here will soon be entered. 



First, on the bank at the roadside, near St. Augustine's gate, 

 close to Norwich, Medicagofalcata was detected. This is very 

 local, that is, it did not appear so far as half a mile from the 

 gate. {Note. The gate was like St. Faith's bogs, invisible.) An- 

 other and more widely-distributed plant, was VMliMCum ^ulve- 

 rulentum. This appeared here and there on the roadside, quite as 

 frequently as V. Thapsus. It is believed that this fine plant 

 abounds in the lane beyond Gorlestone church, but it was not in 

 flower there in the summer of 1862. 



In the marl-pits at St. Faith's we saw Menyanthes trifoliata, a 

 common plant in Norfolk ; also Ranunculus Lingua, far from 

 scarce in watery places, Pedicularis palustris, Lastrea Thelyp- 

 teris, one of the commonest Ferns in this county, were col- 

 lected. 



In a little wood between this waste and another similar one 

 beyond, we saw the Lily of the Valley in countless multitudes. 



On leaving the road at St. Faith's for Catton, we got just one 

 specimen of Nepeta Cataria ; and it might be inferred that the 

 plant is a rare one, for this was the first and the last that we 

 saw in the county. 



