256 OPHIOGLOSSUM. BOTRYCHIUM. 



C That is not exactly a Wellington despatch? S). No — nor 

 much to the purpose ! " Bruneburh here or Bruneburh there " — 

 there certainly was once a camp, and I think that the circles we lie 

 upon were made by the soldiers of that camp in relief of idleness. 

 They would he basking here, like bees, in the sun. 31. Pooh ! that 

 explanation won't do : it will not explain wherefore the figures are 

 all uniform and circular : soldiers' fancies do not run in one vein. 

 ^. True — but there was a model to guide them in their work — they 

 were, like children, making a plan of their camp below, — and each 

 trying to excel his neighbour inexactness. ^. A mere get-off! — ■ 

 Danish camps were not circular, at least not this one ; they were 

 earthen mounds thrown up to aid a natural defence, or to give a 

 vantage-point of offence. I cannot but believe that, on the rock 

 before us, we have engraved a plan, or rude map, of the camps of the 

 district which belonged to the aboriginal Britons. From the rock 

 there is a distinct view of the entire Cheviot range, and, on almost 

 every hill-top of them, was once a circular camp, wherein every tribe 

 sheltered themselves from hostile attacks, and whence they issued on 

 a foray. A tribe, pitched where we are standing, would overlook 

 and watch every movement ; and it is natural enough to conclude 

 that some one amongst them, with a taste for the art, might have 

 indulged his skill in making this sketch, — the circles being made to 

 vary in size according to the variation of the camps on the opposed 

 hills. This conjecture, I believe, has suggested itself to others who 

 have examined the rock, — and in especial to the Rev. Wm. Greenfell, 

 to whom I am indebted for the drawing of it ; and it receives con- 

 firmation from the discovery of another rock, with sculptures of the 

 same character, not above ten miles southwards, — viz. near unto 

 Bewick. 



25. Ophioglossum vulgatum. Hardy in Ann. and Mag. N. 

 Hist. Ser. 2, iii. 153. A.dder's-Tongue. — B. Rare. Grows in a 

 wood on the side of the Coldstream road, a little north of the road 

 leading to Milne-Graden mains. Near Buskin burn, on Coldingham 

 moor, in a field once cultivated, but now running to moor, J. Hardy. 

 June. 



" For them that are with newts, or snakes, or adders stung, 

 He seeketh out an herb that 's called Adder's-tongue, 

 As Nature it ordain' d, its own like hurt to cure. 

 And sportive did herself to niceties inure." — Drayton. 



26. BoTRYCHiTJM LUNARiA. iUftooixiuovt. It occurs, at inter- 

 vals, over the entire range of the Lammermuirs ; and also, in various 

 localities, on the Cheviot hills, as well as on the moors above Kyloe 

 and about Chillingham. Sides of old roads on Penmanshiel moor : 

 moor above Redheugh : St. David's Cairn : old pastures above But- 

 terdean mill, J. Hardy. — ^Witches, it is very well known, mount the 

 clouds and ride the winds, on broomsticks '*' ; and we have authority 

 for saying that the Moon-fern made the saddle of their fleet 

 steeds : — 



* " The stunted broom the wenches hide. 



For fear that I should up and ride." — Gay. 



