CRYPTOGAMOUS PLANT. 253 



beneath, and washing away the support; and in part 

 by the superfluous water from the ditches and water- 

 courses above draining into the fissures of the rock, and 

 so gradually mining or wearing away a passage ; for 

 they are now frequently the receivers of all the running 

 water from the land, which seems naturally to drain 

 into them, and apparently has been so conducted for a 

 long course of years. Some of them present dark and 

 frightful chasms, and bushes and brambles are encour- 

 aged to grow about them, to prevent cattle from falling 

 into the pits. Many a fox, when hard pressed, has 

 been known to make for these " whirly pits," as his last 

 resource ; and, secreting himself in some of the under 

 cavities, has escaped from the pursuit of his enemies 

 above. I once saw one of these animals dead at the 

 bottom. Whether he perished from being unable to 

 return up the crags after one of these retreats, or by 

 any other means, I know not. 



In particular years we are much troubled here by the 

 luxuriant growth of a cryptogamous plant, which I be- 

 lieve to be the lichen fascicularis of Linnaeus : it may 

 always be found even in the dryest summers, but being 

 in those seasons shrivelled up, is in no way troublesome, 

 nor indeed noticed, unless sought for. This lichen 

 covers the walks of shrubberies at times in shady places, 

 and paths in the kitchen garden, appearing like a dull 

 olivaceous crust, most observable about October or No- 

 vember, and the spring months ; but in the summer of 

 1828, the unusual moisture of that season was so favor- 

 able to its growth, that even in August we could not 

 walk in safety in those places where it abounded, our 

 feet sliding along upon the gelatinous, slippery foliage 

 and tubercles. Upon the walks of our culinary gardens 

 we sprinkle coal ashes, and this enables us for some 

 time to pass along with tolerable safety ; but in the end 

 it so fosters the growth of this lichen, and small mosses, 

 which retain moisture as a sponge, that the evil we en- 

 deavor to remove is by the autumn increased : where 

 gravel is not obtainable, paring off the crest of the walk 

 is the only effectual remedy, and this ultimately we are 

 necessitated to resort to. It is notable that such a very 

 W 



