A HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 



as far as to the Ridgeway road (552 feet), and then the latter is followed to Kilsby. The 

 area within the boundaries described is drained by the Learn, and at Kilsby begins the area 

 drained by the Avon, the boundary from Kilsby being the water-parting of the high ground 

 on the south of Crick, and a little north of West Haddon (577 feet), then to the south of 

 Winwick Warren (648 feet), by Cold Ashby (654 feet), to Naseby, where the elevation at 

 the base of the monument is 648 feet above sea-level. The boundary line is then drawn in a 

 northerly direction to Sibbertoft (600 feet) and thence to the Leicestershire border of the county. 

 The source of the Avon is in a group of springs issuing from the escarpment at the base 

 of the layer of Northampton sands, between Naseby and Welford ; but the chief source of the 

 classic river has usually been connected with a spring rising from historic Naseby, at an 

 elevation of 622 feet above sea-level, whence it flows in a westerly direction through Stanford 

 Park and then separates us from Leicestershire ; another feeder passes near Yelvertoft and by 

 Clay Coton to Lilbourne, 



'Where ever-gliding Avon's limpid wave Thwarts the long course of dusty Watling Street.' 

 From the high ground overlooking the valley of the Avon very extensive and pleasing 

 views may be obtained over a country which it is true is singularly deficient in woodland, but 

 yet from its bushy hedgerows, its immemorial elms, and its extensive pastures and gently 

 undulating cornfields, oft'crs a charming landscape, and one especially dear to the fox-hunter. 

 Honey Hill, near Elkington, offers in a special degree an extensive view which includes the 

 spires of Coventry, and under favourable conditions the Malvern Hills. 



The Learn rises from the slopes of the high ground in the vicinity of Arbury Hill and 

 Staverton and Marston Hill, and forms the county boundary of Warwickshire from Shuckburgh 

 Mill to Braunston, and then passes into that county, where it gives its name to Leamington. 



This portion drained by the Leam is very pleasant country, and it contains Arbury Hill, 

 which is the highest portion of the county, namely 734 feet above sea-level. There is con- 

 siderable diversity of soil and elevation in the district, and the light sandy ground near Staver- 

 ton ought to yield several species not at present recorded. The high ground near Barby, and 

 that near West Haddon and the western side of Sibbertoft would well repay working. The 

 large reservoir to the west of Naseby which supplies the canal, the hills and hollows near 

 Elkington, the Grand Junction Canal, and the Oxford and Birmingham Canal, need further 

 exploration. As I have already said, the extent of woodland is extremely small, and 

 heathlands and bogs are practically absent. This is also the character of the Avon and 

 Leam districts in Warwickshire, which have a much larger acreage, but which are remarkable 

 for the absence of bog and heath plants. The Warwickshire districts are however much 

 richer in interesting species than our own, but systematic work would well repay the botanist, 

 as it is certainly the least explored of any of our districts, but the geological formations are 

 not favourable for a rich flora, for notwithstanding the presence of the Northampton sands 

 which cap the higher hills, a very considerable proportion consists of the Lower Lias clays, 

 which form uninteresting country, especially about Kilsby, Barby, Clay Coton, and the valley 

 of the Avon, which is sparsely inhabited, and chiefly in pasture, with a very limited range of 

 vegetation. 



Among the species recorded for the Avon and Leam district are the following : — 



Berberis vulgaris, L. Lamium Galeobdolon, Crantz. 



Thlaspi arvense, L. Mentha longlfolia, Huds. 



Montia fontana, L. Scleranthus annuus, L. 



Spergula sativa, Boenn. Chenopodium Bonus-Henricus, L. 



Cytisus scoparius, Link. Salix rubra, Huds. 



Genista anglica, L. Probably extinct — Smithiana, Willd. 



Melilotus officinalis, Lam. Populus alba, L. 



Lathyrus montanus, Bernh. (Orobus tuberosus, Potamogeton alpinus, Balb. 



L.) Triglochin palustre, L. 



Rubus echinatus, Lindl. Fritillaria Meleagris, L. Not recently re- 



— argentatus, P. J. Muell. corded 



— diversifolius, Lindl. Sparganium neglectum, Beeby 

 [Sedum album, L.] Carex paniculata, L. 



C. intermedia, HofFm. (Callitriche hamulata, Festuca Myurus, L. 



Kuetz.) Phyllitis Scolopendrium. 



Adoxa Moschatellina, L. Polystichum aculeatum, Roth. 



Galium Cruciata, Scop. Ophioglossum vulgatum, L. 



Chr)'santhemum segetum, L. Chara hispida, L. 



Pedicularis sylvatica, L. Tolypella prolifera, Leonh. 



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