612 BOTANICAL SKETCHES. [Novemher, 



neiglibourhood^ and sold to the visitors at Matlock Bath. Con- 

 vallaria majalis, L., is very abundant in the Via Gellii and the 

 thickets of the High Tor. On Cromford Moor I collected Jun- 

 ciis compressus, Jacq. ; the more common Rushes are plentiful. 

 A variety of Carex nmricata, L.^ of rank growth, and having its 

 carpels elongated and twisted, occurs at the back of the Heights 

 of Abraham. C. strigosa, Huds., is abundant on the banks of 

 the Derwent, near the Lovers^ Walk. Koeleria cristata, Pers., 

 grows on the High Tor, and Poa alpina, L., on Marden Hill. 

 The Ferns are very fairly represented in the neighbourhood. 

 Polypodium vulgare, L., as may be supposed, is common; P. 

 Dryopteris, L., grows on the hill above the Old and New Baths, 

 and P. calcareum, Sm., occurs in various spots; it is found in 

 rich luxuriance on the north face of the Heights of Abraham. 

 Cystopteris fragilis, Bernh., is very abundant on the limestone 

 and tufa. I do not recollect meeting Lastrea spinulosa, Presl, 

 or L. dilatata, Presl, on the limestone soil, though they occur 

 plentifully as soon as the sandstone near Cromford is reached; 

 in fact the character of the vegetation marks the geological cha- 

 racter of the soil as distinctly and surely as does the underlying 

 rock itself. Athyrium Filix-foemina, Rh., with its varieties A. 

 rhaticum, Roth, and A. molle, Hoffm., is abundant. So far as 

 my observation goes, A. molle is confined to the sandstone in 

 this neighbourhood. Asplenium viride, L., though occurring 

 further to the north of Derbyshire, I have not observed near 

 Matlock. A. Trichomanes, L,, A. Adiantum-nigrum, L., and A. 

 Rut a-mur aria, L., are sufficiently common. The native Scolo- 

 pendrium, Blechnum, and Pteris are, as may be expected, all to 

 be found. Botrychium Lunaria, Sw., was gathered on Marden 

 Hill, and at no great distance Ophioglossum vidgatum, L. I be- 

 lieve that the district will well repay further search, and possesses 

 many floral treasures that have escaped my eye. 



BOTANICAL SKETCHES. 

 Chat Moss. 



This locality enjoys greater celebrity in the history of railway 

 engineering than it does in the annals of botany. The eminent 

 engineer, Mr. George Stephenson, whose biography is so cele- 



