of Guernsey. 



51 



fern. A kind friend became the companion of my excursions, 

 and took me to a roadside not far from Beaumont station, 

 where he had seen Gymnogramma leptophylla growing. Here 

 we found it, and in the course of our ramble met with it in 

 three or four stations in the same neighbourhood. A pretty 

 sight it is ; it grows in masses covering the bank from top to 

 bottom : its golden hue and elegantly divided outline render 

 it a conspicuous object. 



It seems very widely diffused in Jersey, for I found it in 

 several other places, especially near St. Ouen's manor, and in 

 one new locality, viz., near St. Catherine's harbour. Having 

 thus become quite familiar with it, I told my friend that it 

 grew in Guernsey, and I would forward him a specimen. Ac- 

 cordingly on the following Saturday, I walked to the St. 

 Saviour's hedge, took my specimen, posted it to 

 Jersey, and published an account of the discover} 7 in 

 the Star. Forthwith I was waited upon by half a dozen in- 

 dividuals all anxious to commence the work of extermination ; 

 a carriage was at my service, " Would I be kind enough to 

 come and point out the spot where it was to be found." I was 

 hardhearted enough to refuse and keep my own counsel, and 

 the place is, as far as I am aware, known only to myself and 

 the friend who accompanied me ou the first two occasions. I 

 have looked at it nearly every year since ; this year the crop 

 promised well, though it has never been so luxuriant as on the 

 first occasion. 



I have failed to find the plant in any other part of the 

 island. Is it the last remnant of a once common plant, or has 

 it been introduced recently ? Any one wishing to introduce it, 

 would most likely have planted a few masses here and there in 

 the hedge; and this must have been done some years ago to give 

 the plants time to be found in every favourable spot through- 

 out the 200 feet of hedge -bank, had it thus spread by its 

 spores and established itself in that space, one would have ex* 



