122 Wilmslow. 



a rarity, namely, the J. tomentel' la, though here, in 

 one or two places, abundant. So like a moss is the 

 tomentd'la, that we might readily pass it over as one, 

 did not the eye catch a guasi-fio\ver of four little points 

 spreading horizontally, mosses usually having rays, like 

 the petals of a daisy, and the quasi-Rawer being 

 turned sideways, or even pendulous. The delicate parts 

 that in these little plants look so like flowers in reality 

 are the seed-pods, those truly equivalent to floral organs 

 having been developed long before. 



From the neighbourhood of Hanging-banks wood we 

 may find our way to Mobberley, and thence to Bow- 

 don, or else direct to Bowdon, via Cotterill and Ashley. 

 But either way is rather far, and it is best to make a 

 detour, crossing the river, going along the foot of. the 

 hill, on which stands Bollin House, then recrossing 

 the river by " Oversley ford," and so into the lanes or 

 roads that lead to Lindow and Wilmslow. At the 

 latter place, anciently called " Le Bolyn," there is a 

 good deal that is interesting, should leisure permit the 

 survey, especially in connexion with the church, the 

 oldest parts of which belong to the twelfth century. A 

 vague tradition connects the name of Queen Anne 

 Boleyn with an old hall that formerly stood on a portion 

 of the ground now buried beneath the railway. Authen- 

 tic history, however, is silent on the subject, and the 

 only connexion of her name with the neighbourhood 

 appears to be through her unfortunate groom of the 



