396 DARTMOOR AND THE DART. 



the southern sea. The distinguishing title of " Bea- 

 con," which immeasurable tradition has connected with 

 some of these eminences, in nowise differing from their 

 sister Tors, indicates the use which they subserved. 



Keluctantly we leave these imaginings, and turn 

 our backs upon the ancient pile, Willie first rooting 

 out a crown of the hay-scented fern from the foot of 

 the " clatter," as a mass of granite so situated is pro- 

 vincially termed, and bagging a tiny lamellicorn 

 beetle, and one or two more of the hairstreaks, that 

 were fluttering over the furze-clumps. 



We ride on to make up for time lost in dreaming 

 dreams of three thousand years ago, between the old 

 roadside walls, made of granite blocks, rounded now 

 by the effects of frost, and wind, and rain, and com- 

 pletely encased in lichen coats of many hues. Here 

 the broad buckler-fern becomes the predominant form, 

 remarkable for the very peculiar aspect produced by 

 the recurvation of the edges of its pinnules, as if the 

 plant had been just blighted by some baneful appli- 

 cation, while yet retaining its succulency and green- 

 ness. The hard-fern and the male-fern, however, still 

 occur also, the former unusually fine and well grown. 

 Great agarics, too, and agaric-shaped boleti, are con- 

 spicuouly numerous all along the road in this region. 

 We pass through a gate, and are told that we are on 

 the Moor. 



A wide, desolate, heathy waste it is, undivided by 

 fences (at least where we are travelling), but inter- 

 sected by the high road. It did not oppress me with 



