32 Alexander Goodman More. [1353 



CHAPTER VI. 



AT BRIGHSTONE AND ST. CATHERINE'S. 

 [OCT. 1853 TO FEB. 1854.] 



ON October 3ist 1853, his diary begins " Our whole 

 family left Bembridge after two years residence in Vectis 

 Lodge. Just before starting I took a last look after a 

 Black Redstart that I had observed the day before haunting 

 the garden-wall of Marina Villa, but I was unsuccessful in 

 this pursuit, not even catching a glimpse of his conspi- 

 cuous fire-tail." 



" Father and self led the way in an open chaise, and 

 drove through a smart breeze over the high downs to 

 Newport, enjoying on our way a very fine view of San- 

 down Level, as well as the country towards Ryde on the 

 other side ; the little village of Knighton, well remem- 

 bered as my most accessible station for Thelypteris, 

 appeared most snugly situated close under the hill, sur- 

 rounded and almost concealed by trees ; Godshill Church 

 conspicuous in the distance, where we could also discern 

 St. Catherine's Down, with its lighthouse serving as a 

 good landmark." 



Their destination was the quiet little village of Brigh- 

 stone, situated near the south-west coast of the Island, 

 towards the western extremity of the Greensand Valley, 

 where it had been decided to remain for at least the opening 

 weeks of the winter. To all it was a pleasant change, 

 and Alexander was delighted with the sequestered cha- 

 racter of the spot; nor had he failed to note during the 

 drive, what number of Kestrels were hovering over the 

 Down, nor how thickly the lanes were fringed with masses 

 of Polypody ; Campanula trachelium, too, was flowering 

 by the road side. 



Going out-of-doors next day to " survey the new 

 locale," "we were not long," he writes, "in finding our 



