THE MOSSES AND HEPATIC^E OF JETHOU. 



BY E. D. MARQUAND, A.L.S. 



It is probable that Jethou is one of the very smallest islands 

 in the United Kingdom that can boast of a resident popula- 

 tion. On a large map of the British Isles we do not see the 

 name at all, and its locality is not even marked by a dot. In 

 fact, it is so small that, as the American humorist said of 

 England, it Avould hardly be safe to move about after dark, 

 for fear of walking into the sea. And yet in spite of its 

 diminutive size Jethou takes a longer time to explore than 

 would be suspected ; particularly when searching for mosses 

 and other obscure and inconspicuous plants. I have visited 

 Jethou several times, and it has always seemed to me that the 

 hours glide by more swiftly there than almost anywhere else. 

 But then I have only been there in fine weather, and always 

 with plenty of work to do. 



My last visit w^as on the 6th of May, 1905, wdien I spent 

 about six hours there for the purjjose of working up the 

 Mosses and Hepatic^ indigenous to the island, and ascertain- 

 ing how its flora in this respect would compare wdth that of 

 the neighbouring island of Herm. The result was the list 

 w^hich follows ; a fairly good one, I think, although it is 

 probable that another visit in the autumn, say during 

 November or December, w^ould add a few species to the 

 number. 



The present contribution completes the series for the 

 Sarnian Islands, as the Mosses and Hepatica? of Guernsey, 

 Alderney, Sark and Herm have already been recorded. And 

 so it will now be possible to compare these lists side by side, 

 and see how the various islands differ bryologically, though 

 Sark lies somewhat at a disadvantage, owing to its not having 

 as yet been thoroughly investigated by a specialist. 



Looking at the four smaller islands it is clear that 

 Jethou more nearly resembles Sark, whilst Herm is more like 

 Alderney, because in the two latter there are found large 



