THE ORNITHOLOGY.
[Illustration: The Heronry at Vinney Ridge.]
To describe the Fauna of the Forest is beyond the purpose of this book,
and would, beside, require a life-time to properly accomplish. I can
only here deal with the ornithology as I have with the botany. I do not
know either that the general reader will lose anything by the treatment.
A scientific knowledge is not so much needed as, first of all, a
sympathy with nature, and a love for all her forms of beauty. The great
object in life is not to know, but to feel. But, before we speak of the
birds, let us correct some errors which are so common with regard to the
animals. It is quite a mistake to talk of wild boars or wild ponies
roaming over the Forest. There is not now an animal here without an
owner. The wild boars introduced by Charles I., and others brought over
some fifty years ago, are seen only in their tame
descendants—sandy-coloured, or “badger-pied,” as they are called, which
are turned out into the Forest during the pannage months.[282]
So, too, the Forest ponies never run wild, except in the sense of being
unbroken. Lath-legged, small-bodied, and heavy-headed, but strong and
hardy, living on nothing in the winter but the furze, they are commonly
said, without the slightest ground, to be descendants of the Spanish
horses which swam ashore from the disabled ships of the Armada.
And now for the ornithology. The thick woods, the lonely moors and
holts, attract the birds of prey; the streams and marshes the waders;
whilst the estuaries of the Beaulieu, and Lymington, and Christchurch
rivers, and the Solent, afford a shelter in winter to the geese and
ducks driven from the north.
Again, too, the peculiar mildness of the climate has its effect on the
birds as well as the plants. The martin and the swallow come early in
March and stay till the end of November; that is to say, remain full
three-quarters of the year. I have heard, too, the cuckoo as early as
April 11th and as late as July the 12th. The warblers, whose arrival
depends so much on the south-east winds, may not come earlier than in
other parts of England. They certainly, however, in the southern and
more cultivated parts, where food is plentiful, stay here later than in
the Midland Counties; and I have heard the whitethroat singing, as on a
spring day, in the middle of October.
We will begin with the birds of prey. Gilpin (vol. ii. p. 294) mentions
a pair of golden eagles, which, for many years, at times frequented
King’s Wood, and a single specimen, killed near Ashley Lodge. These,
however, with the exception of one shot some twenty years ago over
Christchurch Harbour, are the last instances of a bird, which can now be
seldom seen except in the north of Scotland. Yarrell,[283] too, notices
that the sea eagle (_Aquila albicilla_) is sometimes a visitor in the
district, but though I have been down under the Hordle and Barton
Cliffs, day after day, for often six months together, I have never seen
a specimen. It, however, sometimes occurs in the winter, and is mistaken
for its rarer ally; and the Eagle Tree at the extreme west end of Vinney
Ridge commemorates where one was shot, some fifty years ago, by a
Forest-keeper. The osprey, however (_Falco haliæëtus_), still frequents
the coast in the autumn, and circles over Christchurch Harbour fishing
for his prey, where, as Yarrell mentions, he is well known as the
“grey-mullet hawk,” on account of his fondness for that fish.
The Peregrine Falcon (_Falco peregrinus_), which breeds on the high
Culver Cliffs of the Isle of Wight, and in the Lulworth Rocks, is in the
summer a regular visitor, and scours the whole country. No year goes by
without some half-dozen or more being killed.
Its congener the hobby (_Falco subbuteo_), known in the Forest as “the
van-winged hawk,” comes about the same time as the honey-buzzard,
building in the old, deserted nests of crows and magpies, and even, as
in one case, to my knowledge, in that of the honey-buzzard. The bird,
however, is becoming scarce. For several years I have known a pair or
two build in Buckhill Wood, of which a sketch is given at the end of
this chapter, but last year none came. It lays generally about the
beginning of June, though I have received its eggs as late as July 12th.
Yarrell says that their number is three or four; but, with Mr. Hoy,[284]
I have never known the bird lay more than three, and very often only
two.
The goshawk (_Falco palumbarius_) and the rough-legged buzzard (_Falco
lagopus_) are very rarely seen; but, I fear, the kite, although so
plentiful in Gilpin’s time, has nearly deserted this, like all other
districts. Once, and once only, has it been seen by Mr. Farren. The
honey-buzzard, however (_Falco apivorus_), comes regularly over from
Germany about the end of May, attracted, in some measure, perhaps, by
its favourite food, the larvæ of wasps and bees, but chiefly by the wide
range of the woods. At Mark Ash and Puckpits I have frequently, for an
hour together, watched a couple, sailing with their wings outspread,
allowing the wind, on a boisterous day, to catch them, till it almost
veered them over; just circling round the tops of the beeches, sometimes
even “tumbling,” like a pigeon, and answering each other with their
sharp, short cry, prolonged every now and then into a melancholy wail.
Its favourite breeding stations are amongst the tall beech-woods round
Lyndhurst, in Mark Ash, and Gibbs Hill, Puckpits, Coalmeer, Prior’s
Acre, and the oaks of Bentley and Sloden. The nest is always placed in
the old one of a crow, or even the common buzzard, whose young by that
time have flown, and sometimes made on the top of a squirrel’s “cage,”
the birds contenting themselves with only re-shaping it, and lining the
inside with fresh green leaves. The fact of a squirrel’s “cage” being
used will account for the nest being sometimes found so low, and on a
comparatively small tree. No rule can therefore be laid down as to its
position. I have known the bird build in very different situations. Mr.
Rake found its nest in Sloden, on the forked bough of a low oak, not
thirty feet from the ground. In 1860 a pair built, not very much higher,
in the overhanging branch of a beech in Puckpits; and, in the same year,
another pair reared their young on the top of a fir in Holmy Ridge Hill.
And in 1861 and 1862, I knew of two nests, not fifty yards apart, in
Mark Ash, each placed nearly at the top of the very tallest beeches in
the wood, at least seventy or eighty feet from the ground. As so little
appears to be known about its breeding habits, I may as well add a few
more words. It seldom arrives till the beginning of June, when the
leaves are thick on the trees, and immediately commences its nest, for
which purpose it seems only to come, as it immediately departs when the
young birds can fly. Pairs have been known, however, not to lay till the
end of July; and, I am assured by one of the Forest keepers, not
sometimes till even the beginning of August; but these are, doubtless,
cases where the birds have been robbed of their first eggs. It differs
from the common buzzard in not flying away when disturbed during
incubation, but merely skimming round the top of the tree in small
circles, uttering its short, shrill cry, sometimes both male and female
perching on the branch of a neighbouring tree, and remaining undisturbed
by shouts or cries, whilst the nest is being reached. At these times a
kind of stupidity seizes the bird. It has, to my knowledge, on several
occasions, remained in the nest till a boy has touched its feathers, and
returned as soon as he left.
As a further illustration, I may add, that in one of the nests before
mentioned, in Mark Ash (June 7th, 1862), was only one egg, which was
taken. The birds, however, did not forsake, and another, which was also
taken, was laid on the third day. Even then the birds did not desert,
but after the interval of two more days laid a third egg, about one-half
smaller than usual, and in shape somewhat resembling a peregrine’s.
On another occasion, June 11th, 1859, a pair bred in a high beech in
Coalmeer Wood, near Stoney Cross, and though fired at more than once did
not desert. The female, however, was first shot, when the cock, nothing
daunted, took his partner’s place, and sat on the eggs, and in a day or
two afterwards shared her fate. In the nest were two eggs, which, with
the exception before mentioned, I have never known exceeded. Those in my
collection vary in colouring from the light dull vermilion, which so
often characterizes the merlin’s eggs, to a deep rich morone, tinted,
especially in newly-taken specimens, with a delicate crimson bloom.[285]
A few words more. The birds are not much seen in the day, but generally
early in the morning. Whilst the hen bird sits on the eggs, the cock
perches close by in some tall thick tree. Perhaps from this very
affection for their young arises their seeming stupidity, and the ease
with which they are killed. Some years ago a keeper found a nest with
two young birds in Bentley Wood, and on purpose to secure them tied them
by their legs to a small tree, where the old birds regularly came and
fed them. But the strangest fact with regard to their breeding is that
before they finally decide upon a nest they will line several with green
leaves and small leafy twigs. Lastly, I may add that though I have
examined many nests, I have never found any traces of their being, as is
related by some writers, lined with wool. If there was any wool it was
probably placed there by the bird which had previously inhabited the
nest.
The common buzzard (_Falco buteo_) is a resident all through the year in
the Forest, and may now and then be seen towering high up in the air, so
high that you would not at first notice him, unless you heard his wild
scream. It is not, however, nearly so plentiful as formerly. He is a sad
coward, and the common crow will not only attack, but defeat him. Once
or twice I have seen their battles during the breeding season. The jays,
and magpies, too, and even the pewits, will mob him, the latter striking
at him almost like a falcon. Its favourite breeding-places are in the
Denny and Bratley Woods, Sloden, Birchen Hat, Mark Ash, and Prior’s
Acre. Several nests are yearly taken, for the bird generally breeds when
the bark-strippers are at work in April and May. A series of its eggs,
in my collection, taken in the Forest, show every variety of colouring
from nearly pure white to richly blotched specimens.
In the breeding-season the birds are excessively destructive. A boy who
climbed up to a nest in the spring of 1860 told me that he found no less
than two young rabbits, a grey hen, and two thrushes as provision for
two nestlings. However, there is always some compensation, for in one
which I examined were the skeletons of two snakes and a rat picked to
the bone.
[Illustration: Common Buzzard’s Nest.]
[Illustration: Honey-Buzzard’s Nest.]
The accompanying vignette will, I trust, although the nests are so
exactly alike, be of some interest. Whilst the artist was sketching the
honey-buzzard’s nest, the old bird, the first which I had noticed in
1862, made its appearance and circled round the tree, uttering its
peculiar short shrill squeak. This nest, which had been repaired in the
previous year, the dead beech-leaves still hanging on to the twigs, was
between forty and fifty feet from the ground; whilst that of the common
buzzard, who, whilst sitting, had, a month before, been killed, was
upwards of seventy feet, and placed on the very topmost boughs of a
beech, on which tree was also the other.
But more important than even the nesting of the honey-buzzard is that of
the merlin (_Falco æsalon_), which fact has never yet been, so far as I
know, noticed as occurring in the New Forest. In the winter this little
hawk is sometimes seen hunting, as it does in Ireland, the snipe,
although but few specimens find their way to the bird-stuffer. It
lingers on, however, to the summer, but the opportunities then of
watching its habits are more rare, as the foliage of the woods is so
thick. In 1859 and 1861 Mr. Farren received two nests with three eggs,
taken in old pollard hollies growing in the open heath, which in every
way corresponded with those of the merlin, being considerably smaller
than those of kestrels. Unfortunately, however, he could not procure the
parent birds, and the fact of the merlin’s nesting remained doubtful. In
1862 he was at last successful, and on May 22nd discovered a nest,
placed in the hole of a yew, also containing, like the others, three
eggs, from which the male bird was shot. Both the bird and eggs are now
in my collection, the latter being somewhat richer and darker in colour
than those which I have received from the Orkney and Shetland islands.
The important fact, however, to be noticed is that, as Temminck remarks,
the birds in a woody country build in trees, whilst in the north of
Britain, where there is no timber, they adapt themselves to the country,
and lay on the ground.[286]
The marsh and hen-harriers, too, frequent the moors and heaths of the
Forest, especially the latter, locally known as the “blue hawks.” Some
few pairs of these breed here, and in 1859 a nest containing three young
birds was found near Picket Post by a woodman, and another in 1862, with
three eggs, on Beaulieu Heath. One of the Forest keepers described the
fern for some distance round a nest, which he discovered, as completely
trodden down by the young birds, and so littered with feathers and dirt
that, to use his words, the place had exactly the appearance of a
goose-pen. A woodman, too, who in 1860 was set to watch a pair near
Ocknell, gave me an interesting account of his seeing the old birds
breaking off the young tops of the fern to form their nest. I have never
myself been fortunate enough in the Forest to find their nest, but I
have often watched a pair on Black Knoll and Beaulieu Heath skimming
over the ground, pausing to hover just above the furze, then flying
forward for some ten or twenty yards, turning themselves suddenly
sideways; and then again, for a minute, poising, kestrel-like, beating
each bush, and every now and then going up a little higher in the air,
but quickly coming down close over the cover.
Passing from the falcons, let us look at the owls, of which the Forest
possesses four, if not more, varieties. The commonest is the tawny
(_Strix aluco_), whose hooting fills the woods all through the winter.
At Stoney Cross I have repeatedly heard, on a still November night, a
pair of them calling to one another at least two miles apart. It not
only breeds in holes of trees, but in old crows’-nests, and will often,
when its eggs are taken, lay again within a week. The barn owl, strange
to say, is not much more abundant than the long-eared (_Strix otus_),
which breeds in the old holly-bushes, generally taking some magpie’s
nest, where it lays three eggs. Rarer still is the short-eared (_Strix
brachyotus_), which visits the Forest in November, staying through the
winter, and in the day-time rising out of the dry heath and withered
fern.[287]
Leaving the owls, let us notice some of the other birds. Many a time, in
the cold days of March, have I seen the woodcocks, in the new oak
plantations of Wootton, carrying their young under their wing, clutching
them up in their large claws. Here, on the ground, they lay their eggs,
which are of the same colour as the withered oak-leaves—a dull ochre,
spotted and clouded with brown, and are thus easily overlooked. About
the same time, or even earlier—in February—the raven will build, or
rather used to, in the old woods round Burley. In 1858 the two last
nests were taken, the eggs being somewhat smaller than those which I
have received from the Orkneys. Another of its breeding stations was in
Puckpits, where, however, it has not built for the last four seasons.
Formerly the bird was common enough, as the different Ravensnest Woods
still show; and old men in the Forest have told me, in direct
opposition, however, to what Yarrell says,[288] that when, as boys,
taking its eggs, they were obliged to arm themselves with stones and
sticks to drive off the parent birds, who fiercely defended their nests
with their claws and bills. Now it is nearly extinct, though a pair may
sometimes be seen wherever there is a dead horse or cow in the district.
Then, when the summer comes, and the woods are green and dark, the
honey-buzzard skims round the tops of the trees; and the snipe, whose
young have not yet left the swamps, goes circling high up in the air,
“bleating,” as the common people here call the noise of its wings, each
time it descends in its waving, wandering flight; whilst out on the open
spaces the whinchat, known throughout the Forest, from its cry, as the
“furze hacker,” jerks itself from one furze branch to another; and
flitting along with it fly a pair of Dartford warblers.
And as, too, evening draws down, from the young green fern the
goatsucker, the “night-crow” and the “night-hawk” of the district,
springs up under your feet, and settles a few yards off, and then flies
a little way farther, hoping to lead you from its white marble-veined
eggs on the bare ground.
Such scenes can the Forest show to the ornithologist in spring and
summer, nor is it less interesting to him in the winter. Here, as he
wanders across some moor, flocks of fieldfares and missel-thrushes start
out of the hollies, and the ring-ousel skulks off from the yew. A
bittern, its neck encircled with a brown frill of feathers, is, perhaps,
wading by the stream; and hark! from out of the sky comes the clanging
of a wedge-shaped flock of grey-lag geese.
Instead of a chapter a volume might be written upon the ornithology of
the New Forest, especially about the winter visitants—the flocks of
pochards, and teal, and tufted-ducks, which darken the Avon, and the
swans and geese which whiten the Solent. I have stood for hours on the
beach at Calshot, and watched the faint cloud in the horizon gradually
change into a mass of wings beating with one stroke, or marked string
after string of wigeon come splashing down in the mid-channel. Little
flocks of ring-dotterels and dunlins flit overhead, their white breasts
flashing in the winter sun every time they wheeled round. The shag flies
heavily along, close to the water, with his long outstretched neck,
melancholy and slow, and the cry of the kittiwake sounds from the
mud-flats.
To leave, however, the winter birds, and to pass on to more general
observations, let me notice a curious fact about the tree-creeper
(_Certhia familiaris_) in the southern parts of the Forest. Here there
are large plantations of firs, and consequently but few holes in the
trees. To make up for this deficiency, I have twice found the creeper’s
nest placed inside a squirrel’s “cage,” showing the same adaptability to
circumstances which is met with in the whole animal creation. Here, too,
in these thick firs build great numbers of jays; and I have, when
climbing up to their nests, more than once seen a squirrel coming out
with an egg in its claw or mouth. I should have been inclined to have
doubted the fact had I not seen it. The sucked eggs which are so often
found must, therefore, be attributed quite as much to the squirrel as
the magpie or the jay, who have so long borne the guilt. Of course, too,
from the great extent of wood we should expect to find the woodpeckers
very plentiful. The common woodpecker, known as the “yaffingale” and
“woodnacker,” is to be seen darting down every glade. The
greater-spotted (_Picus major_) is not unfrequent, and the
lesser-spotted (_Picus minor_) in the spring comes out of the woods and
frequents the orchards of Burley and Alum Green, boring its hole in the
dead boughs.
And here let me notice the tenacity with which the greater-spotted
woodpecker, whose nesting habits are not elsewhere in England so well
observable, clings to its breeding-place; for I have known it, when its
eggs have been taken, to lay again in the same hole, the eggs being,
however, smaller. Mr. Farren tells me that he has observed the same
fact, which is curious, as its ally, the green woodpecker, is so easily
driven away, by even a common starling.
The presence of the great black woodpecker (_Picus martius_) has long
been suspected, especially since a specimen has been killed in the Isle
of Wight, and a pair have been seen near Christchurch.[289] Mr. Farren,
in 1862, was fortunate enough not only to see the bird, but to discover
its nest. On the ninth of June, whilst in Pignel Wood, near
Brockenhurst, he observed the hen bird fly out of a hole placed about
six feet high in a small oak, from which he had earlier in the season
taken a green woodpecker’s nest. Hiding himself in the bushwood, he saw,
after waiting about half an hour, the hen return, and had no doubts as
to its identity. An endeavour, however, to secure her in the hole, with
the butterfly-net which he had with him, was unsuccessful. He was afraid
to leave the eggs, as some woodmen were working close by, and so lost
any other opportunity of making the capture. The eggs, now in my
collection, were four in number, one being slightly addled, and are the
only specimens ever taken in England. They were laid on the bare rotten
wood, the bird finding the hole sufficiently large, as Mr. Farren had
widened it when taking the previous eggs. It is, however, remarkable
that such a shy bird should have built in such a scattered and thin wood
as Pignel, close to a public thoroughfare, and where the woodmen had for
some time past been constantly felling timber.
But what gives the Forest so much of its character is the number of
herons who have lately established themselves in various parts. You can
scarcely go along a stream-side without surprising some one or two,
which, as you approach, flap their large slate-coloured wings, and fly
off with a rolling, heavy motion, circling in the air as they go. Down
at Exbury, at the mouth of the Beaulieu river, they may be seen in
companies of threes and fours, wading in the shallows, probing their
long bills into the mud and sand; and then, as the tide comes up, making
off to the freshwater ponds. They are, however, I am afraid, rather
persecuted, as they never long here remain at one breeding station. They
first took up their abode in Old Burley Wood, and then removed to Wood
Fidley, and subsequently to Denney, and finally to Vinney Ridge. In
1861, fifty pairs, at least, must have built in its tall beeches. On a
fine early spring morning, a long grey line of them would perch on the
neighbouring green of Dame Slough, picking up the twigs of heather and
flying off with them to line their great platforms of nests; and then
sailing down to the Blackwater stream, in the “bottom” close by, to
fish. In the morning and evening, and, in fact, all through the day, one
incessant clamour was going on, and under the trees lay great eels,
which had fallen from their nests.
Last year the numbers were greatly decreased, the birds having been,
perhaps, driven away by the woodcutters and charcoal-burners employed to
cut down the surrounding timber. The sketch which stands at the head of
this chapter was taken in June—too late in the year to show any of the
nests, but several young birds were still hovering round who had not
even then quite quitted. A small colony has, too, established itself at
Boldrewood, where I trust it will be protected; for few birds possess so
much character, and give so much beauty to the landscape.
Before we conclude, let us glance at some other peculiarities of the
Forest district, and its effects on its birds. It is not too far
westward for the east winds to bring the hoopoe, so common in Sussex.
Throughout the summer of 1861, a pair were constantly flying about and
hopping on the “Lawn” near Wilverley Forest Lodge. The black redstart
(_Sylvia tithys_) and the fire-crest (_Regulus ignicapillus_) just skim
its borders in their westerly winter migrations. Small flocks of
dotterel make it their halting spot for a few days in spring, on their
way to their northern breeding-places. In the winter, its mildness
brings numbers of siskins, some few bramblings, and the common and even
the parrot crossbill, escaping from the frosts of the north.
Other things may be mentioned. The hawfinches do not stay all the year
round, as might be expected, or, at least, only one or two pairs, simply
because there are no hornbeams in the Forest, nor gardens to tempt them
with their fruits. The chough, too, is seldom seen, its eggs and young
being plundered in the Isle of Wight cliffs and the Lulworth rocks. It
is now extinct in Sussex, and will soon be in the New Forest. Yet these
birds were once so numerous in England, not only damaging the crops, but
unthatching the barns and houses, that a special Act of Parliament was
passed against them.[290] Twopence for a dozen heads were given. People
were, under various penalties, bound to destroy them, and parishes were
ordered to keep chough and crow nets in repair.
There is, unfortunately, no other forest in England by which we can make
comparisons with the ornithology of the New Forest. In Churchill
Babington’s excellent synopsis of the birds of Charnwood Forest, we find
only one hundred and twenty-five species, but little more than one-half
of those in the New Forest. Out of the three hundred and fifty-four
British birds the New Forest possesses seventy-two residents, whilst it
has had no less than two hundred and thirty killed or observed within
its boundaries.[291] With this we must end. I am afraid it is too late
to protest against the slaughter of our few remaining birds of prey. The
eagle and kite are, to all purpose, extinct, in England, and the
peregrine and honey-buzzard will soon share their fate. The sight of a
large bird now calls out all the raffish guns of a country-side.
Ornithologists have, however, themselves to thank. With some honourable
exceptions, I know no one so greedy as a true ornithologist. The
botanist does not uproot every new flower which he discovers, but—for he
loves them too well—carefully spares some plants to grow and increase;
whilst few ornithologists rest content till they see the specimen safe
in their cabinets. This, I suppose, must be, from the nature of the
study, the case. Still, however, the love for Nature, and the enthusiasm
which it gives, must be regarded as a far greater offset. And here let
me, for the last time, say that I feel sure that nobody knows anything
of the true charms of the country who is ignorant of natural history.
With the slightest love and knowledge of it, then every leaf is full of
meaning, every pebble a history, every torn branch, gilded with lichens,
and silvered with mosses, has its wonders to tell; and you will find
life in the dust, and beauty in the commonest weed.
[Illustration: View in Buckhill Wood.]
[Illustration: MAP OF THE NEW FOREST.
High-resolution Map]
APPENDICES.
I. Glossary of Provincialisms.
II. List of the Flowering Plants.
III. List of the Birds.
IV. List of the Lepidoptera.
APPENDICES.
APPENDIX I.
A GLOSSARY OF SOME OF THE PROVINCIALISMS USED IN THE NEW FOREST.
I could easily have expanded the following glossary to three times its
size, but my object is to give only some specimens of those words which
have not yet found their way into, or have not been fully explained in
Mr. Halliwell’s or Mr. Wright’s dictionaries of provincialisms. The
following collection is, I believe, the first ever made of the New
Forest, or even, with the exception of the scanty list in Warner,[292]
of Hampshire provincialisms, which of course to a certain extent it
represents,—more especially those of the western part of the county. A
separate work, however, would be needed to give the whole collection,
and the following examples must here suffice.
Of course I do not say that all these words are to be found only in the
New Forest. Many of them will doubtless be elsewhere discovered, though
they hitherto, as here, have escaped notice. The time, however, for
assigning the limits of our various provincialisms and provincial
dialects has not yet arrived.
The use of the personal pronoun “he,” as, throughout the West of
England, applied to things alike animate and inanimate, and the
substitution of “thee” for you, when the speaker is angry, or wishes to
be emphatic, may be here noticed. In the Forest, too, as in parts of
Berkshire, a woman when employed upon out-door work is sometimes spoken
of in the masculine gender, as the Hungarians are falsely said to have
done of their queen on a certain memorable occasion. The confusion of
cases which has been noticed by philologists is here, as in other parts
of England, rather the result of ignorance than a peculiar character of
the dialect.
Adder’s-Fern. The common polypody (_Polypodium vulgare_), so called from
its rows of bright spores. The hard-fern (_Blechnum boreale_) is known
as the “snake-fern.”
Allow, To. To think, suppose, consider. This word exactly corresponds to
the American “guess” (which, by the way, is no Americanism, but used by
Wiclif in his Bible: see Luke, ch. vii. v. 43), and is employed as often
and as indefinitely in the New Forest. If you ask a peasant how far it
is to any place, his answer nearly invariably is, “I allow it to be so
far.” “Suppose,” in Sussex, is used in much the same way.
Bell-heath. _See_ Red-heath.
Bed-furze. The dwarf furze (_Ulex nanus_), which is very common
throughout the Forest.
Black-heath. _See_ Red-heath.
Black-heart, The. The bilberry (_Vaccinium Myrtillus_), the “whimberry”
of the northern counties, which grows very plentifully throughout the
Forest. It is so called, by a singular corruption, the original word
being hartberry, the Old-English _heorot-berg_, to which the qualifying
adjective has been added, whilst the terminal substantive has been lost,
and the first totally misapprehended. To go “hearting” is a very common
phrase. (See _Proceedings of the Philological Society_, vol. iii. pp.
154, 155.)
Brize. To press. “Brize it down,” means, press it down. Is this only
another form of the old word prize, preese, to press, crowd?
Boughy. A tree, which instead of running up straight is full of boughs,
is said to be “boughy.” It is also used generally of thick woods. Akin
to it is the old word buhsomenesse, boughsomeness, written, as Mr.
Wedgwood notices (_Dictionary of English Etymology_, p. 285), buxomeness
by Chaucer.
Bower-Stone, A. A boundary-stone. Called a “mere-stone” in some of the
Midland Counties. Perhaps from the Keltic _bwr_, an inclosure,
intrenchment; just as manor is said to be from _maenawr_, a district
with a stone bound.
Bound-Oak. _See_ Oak, Mark-.
Brownies, The. The bees. _See_ chap. xvi., p. 185.
Brow. Mr. Halliwell and Mr. Wright give this as a Wiltshire word, in the
sense of brittle. In the New Forest it is applied only to short, snappy,
splintering timber of bad quality.
Buck, The. The stag-beetle, so called from its strong horn-like
_antennæ_. The children, when catching it, sing this snatch—
“High buck,
Low buck,
Buck, come down.”
It is also called pinch-buck. The female is known as the doe. _See_
“Bryanston Buck,” in Mr. Barnes’s _Glossary of the Dorsetshire Dialect_,
appended to his _Poems of Rural Life_.
Bunch, A. A blow, or the effects of a blow; and then a blotch, burn,
scald, pimple, in which latter senses “bladder” is also often used. The
verb “to bunch,” to strike, is sometimes heard. _See_ Wedgwood (vol. i.
p. 269, and vol. ii. p. 263) on its allied forms. Used by Pope, _Iliad_,
bk. ii. 328.
Cammock, The. (From the Old-English _cammec_, _cammoc_, _cammuc_.) The
various species of St. John’s-wort, so plentiful in the neighbourhood of
the New Forest; then, any yellow flower, as the fleabane (_Pulica
dysenterica_) and ragwort (_Senecto Jacobæa_). In Dorsetshire, according
to Mr. Barnes, it only means the rest-harrow (_Ononis arvensis_).
Cass, A. A spar used in thatching, called in the Midland and
North-Western Counties a “buckler.” Before it is made into a cass, it is
called a “spargad.”
Cattan, A. A sort of noose or hinge, which unites the “hand-stick” to
the flail. It is made in two parts. The joint which joins the
“hand-stick” is formed of ash or elm, whilst that which fits the flail
is made of leather, as it is required to be more flexible near the part
which strikes the floor. Mr. Wright and Mr. Halliwell give as a
North-country word the verb “catton,” to beat, with which there is
evidently some connection.
Childag, A. A chilblain. Often called simply a “dag,” and “chilbladder.”
Cleet, A. More generally used in the plural, as “cleets.” Iron tips on a
shoe. Hence we have the expression, “to cleet oxen,” that is, to shoe
them when they work.
Close. Hard, sharp. “It hits close,” means it hits hard.
Cothe. (From the Old-English “coða, coðe.”) A “cothe sheep,” means a
sheep diseased in its liver. The springs in the New Forest are said “to
cothe” the sheep—that is, to disease their livers. Hence we have such
places as “Cothy Mead,” and “Cothy Copse.” Mr. Barnes (as before) gives
the form “acothed,” as used in Dorsetshire.
Crink-crank. “Crink-crank words” are long words—_verba
sesquipedalia_—not properly understood. (See _Proceedings of
Philological Society_, vol. v. pp. 143-148.)
Crow-peck, The. The Shepherd’s needle (_Scandix-pecten Veneris_); called
also “old woman’s needle.” There is a common saying in the New Forest,
that “Two crow-pecks are as good as an oat for a horse;” to which the
reply is, “That a crow-peck and a barley-corn may be.”
Crutch, A. (From the Friesic _kroek_, connected with the Old-English
_crocca_, our crock). A dish, or earthenware pipkin. We daily in the New
Forest and the neighbourhood hear of lard and butter crutches. The word
“shard,” too, by the way, is still used in the Forest for a cup, and
housewives still speak of a “shard of tea.”
Cuttran, A. A wren; more commonly called a “cutty;” which last word Mr.
Barnes gives in his _Glossary of the Dorsetshire Dialect_, p. 331, but
which is common throughout the West of England. As Mr. Barnes, p. 354,
observes, the word is nothing more than cutty wren;—the little wren.
(_See_ “Kittywitch,” _Transactions of Philological Society_, 1855, p.
33.)
Decker, or Dicker, To. One of the old forms of to deck; literally, to
cover; from the Old-English “þeccan;” in German, _decken_. It now,
however, only signifies to ornament or spangle. A lady’s fingers are
said to be deckered with rings, or the sky with stars.
Deer’s-Milk. Wood-spurge (_Euphorbia amygdaloides_). So called from the
white viscous juice which exudes from its stalks when gathered.
Dount, To. To dint, or imprint. Formed, as Mr. Wedgwood remarks, of the
kindred words, dint, dent, dunt, by an onomatopoëtic process. We find
the word in an old song still sung in the New Forest, “A Time to
remember the Poor:”—
“Here’s the poor harmless hare from the woods that is tracked,
And her footsteps deep dounted in snow.”
Dray, A. A prison; “the cage” of the Midland districts. Curiously enough
the old poet William Browne, as also Wither, speaks of a squirrel’s nest
as a “dray”—still used, by-the-by, in some counties—which in the New
Forest is always called a “cage.” In this last sense Mr. Lower adds it
to the glossary of Sussex provincialisms (_Sussex Archæological
Collections_, vol. xiii., p. 215). I may further note that at Christmas
in the Forest, as in other wooded parts of England, squirrel-feasts are
held. Two parties of boys and young men go into the woods armed with
“scales” and “snogs” (see chap. xvi. p. 182), to see who will kill the
most squirrels. Sometimes as many as a hundred or more are brought home,
when they are baked in a pie. Their fur, too, is sought after for its
glossiness.
Drum, Ivy-, An. The stem of an ivy tree or bush, which grows round the
hole of another tree.
Drunch, To. To draw up, press, squeeze. We find the substantive
“drunge,” with which it is evidently connected, given in Wright as a
Wiltshire pronunciation for pressure, or crowd. Mr. Barnes also, in his
_Glossary of the Dorsetshire Dialect_, p. 235, gives the forms “dringe”
or “drunge,” to squeeze or push.
Elam, An. An handful of thatch. Common both in the New Forest and
Wiltshire. In the former three elams make a bundle, and twenty bundles
one score, and four scores a ton. In the latter the measurement is
somewhat different, five elams forming a bundle.
Fessey. (From the Old-English _fús_, ready, prompt, quick). Proud,
upstart. In the glossaries of Wright and Halliwell we find “fess” given
as the commoner form.
Fetch, To. Used with reference to churning butter. “To fetch the
butter,” means, to raise the cream into a certain consistency.
Fire-bladder. A pimple, or eruption on the face. _See_ “bunch.”
Flisky. Small, minute. Used especially of misty rain.
Flitch, or quite as often Fritch. (From the Old-English _flit_, or
_geflit_). Not only as explained in the glossary of Wiltshire,
impertinent, busy, but, by some _boustrophêdon_ process, good-humoured.
“You are very flitch to-day,” that is, good-natured.
Fluders. Worms, which on certain land get into the livers of sheep, when
the animal is said to be “cothed.” Called also “flukes,” and
“flounders.” _See_ the word “cothe.”
Gait, A. A crotchet, or, as the vulgar expression is, a maggot. Used
always in a deprecatory sense. When a person has done anything foolish
he says, “this is a gait I have got.” Doubtless, identical with “get” in
Wedgwood, vol. ii. p. 144.
Gettet. Sprung, or slightly cracked. Used throughout the West of
England.
Giggle, To. To stand awry or crooked. Said especially of small things,
which do not stand upright.
Glutch, To. (From the French en-gloutir). Not simply, to swallow or
gulp, as explained in the glossaries, but more especially to stifle a
sob.
Gold-heath, The. The bog-moss, (_Sphagnum squarrosum_), which is used in
the New Forest to make fine brooms.
Gold-withey, The. The bog-myrtle, or English mock-myrtle (_Myrica
Gale_), mentioned in Mr. Kingsley’s New Forest ballad,—
“They wrestled up, they wrestled down,
They wrestled still and sore;
Beneath their feet, the myrtle sweet,
Was stamped in mud and gore.”
It grows in all the wet places in the Forest, and is excessively sweet,
the fruit being furnished with resinous glands. It is said to be
extensively used in drugging the beer in the district.
Graff, or grampher. _See_ Wosset.
Gross. Often used in a good sense for luxuriant, and applied to the
young green crops, just as “proud,” and “rank,” or rather “ronk,” as it
is pronounced, are in the Midland Counties.
Gunney. To look “gunney” means, to look archly or cunning. There is also
the verb “to gunney.” “He gunneyed at me,” signifies, he looked straight
at me. From the French _guigner_.
Hacker, furze-, The. The whinchat, so called from its note, which it
utters on the sprays of the furze.
Hame. There is a curious phrase, “all to hame,” signifying, broken to
pieces, used both here and in Wiltshire. Thus the glass, when broken, is
said to be “all to hame,” that is, “all to bits.” The metaphor has been
taken from “spindly” wheat on bad ground running to halm, from the
Old-English _healm_, now the West-Saxon peasant’s “hame.” “All to,” I
may add, is used adverbially in its old sense of entirely, quite, as we
find it in Judges ix. 53.
Harl, The. The hock of a sheep.
Harvest-Lice. The seeds of the common agrimony (_Agrimonia eupatoria_)
and “heriff” (_Galium Aparine_). _See_ Clivers, chap. xv. p. 166.
Hell. A dark place in the woods. _See_ chap. x. p. 110.
Herder. A sieve. _See_ chap. xvi. p. 185, foot-note.
Hill-trot, The. The wild carrot (_Daucus Carota_), used also in
Wiltshire. Most probably a corruption of eltrot, eldrot, oldroot, and so
from the Old-English. These last forms are given in Mr. Barnes’
_Glossary of the Dorset dialect_, p. 336.
Hoar-withey. The whitebeam (_Sorbus Aria_), which, with its white
leaves, is very conspicuous in the Forest. We find the word used in the
perambulation of the Forest in the twenty-second year of Charles I.,—“by
the road called Holloway, and from thence to Hore-withey, in the place
whereof (decayed) a post standed in the ground.” It is exactly the same
as the “har wiðig” of the Old-English. It is called also, but more
rarely, the “white rice.” _See_ chap. xvi. p. 183.
Hoo, To. To simmer, boil; evidently formed, like so many other words, by
an onomatopoëtic process (_See_ chap. xvi. p. 186). There is also the
phrase, “the kettle is on the hoo,” that is, to use a vulgarism, on the
simmer, or boil.
Hoop, To go a. To go where you like. “He is going a hoop,” means, he is
going to the bad.
Hum-water. A cordial which is made from the common horse-mint (_Mentha
aquatica_). Does “hum” here mean strong, as it is used in some counties
with reference to beer? _See_ chap. xv. p. 166.
Joseph’s Walking-stick. The Joseph’s-ladder of the Midland Counties,
common in all the cottage gardens round the Forest. It is curious to
notice, amongst our peasantry, the religious element in the names of
both the wild and cultivated flowers derived from Catholic times. Thus
we have ladies’ cushions, and ladies’ tresses, and St. Peter’s-wort, and
St. John’s-wort, besides the more common plants, such as marygolds and
ladysmocks, which every one can remember.
Kittering. Weak. The more North-country word “tuly” is also heard in the
same sense.
Lance, To. To jump, leap, or bound. Used especially of the Forest deer,
which in dry weather are said “to lance” over the turf.
Lark’s Lees, or Lease, A. A piece of poor land fit only for larks, or,
as the peasantry of the Midland Counties would say, only “fit to bear
peewits.” Mr. Halliwell gives the form “lark leers,” as a Somersetshire
phrase; but the above expression may be daily heard in the New Forest.
Louster. Noise, disturbance. “What a louster you are making,” signifies,
what a confusion you are causing.
Lug-stick. _See_ Rug-stick.
Mallace, The. The common mallow (_Malvus sylvestris_). Formed like
bullace, and other similar words.
Margon. Corn chamomile (_Anthemis arvensis_). Called “mathan,”
throughout the Anglian districts.
Mark-oak, _See_ Oak.
Mokin, or more generally in the plural, Mokins. Coarse gaiters for
defending the legs from the furze. _See_ chap. xv. p. 162.
Muddle, To. To fondle, caress, to rear by the hand. Hence we obtain the
expression “a mud lamb,” that is, a lamb whose mother is dead, which has
been brought up by hand, equivalent to the “tiddlin lamb” of the
Wiltshire shepherds. _See_ Wosset.
Oak, Mark-, A. The same as a “bound-oak,” or boundary oak or ash, as the
case may be, so called from the ancient cross, or mark, cut on the rind.
As Kemble notices (_The Saxons in England_, vol. i., appendix A. p.
480), we find in Cod. Dipl. No. 393, “on ðán merkeden ók,” to the marked
oak, showing how old is the name. I have never met in the New Forest
with an instance of a “crouch oak” (from _crois_), such as occurs at
Addlestone in Surrey, and which is said to have been the “bound-oak” of
Windsor Forest (_See_ _The Saxons in England_, as before, vol. i. chap.
ii. p. 53, foot-note). The “bound-oak,” marked in the Ordnance Map near
Dibden, has fallen, but we find the name preserved in the fine old wood
of Mark Ash, near Lyndhurst. In the perambulation of the Forest in the
29th year of Edward I. we read of the Merkingstak of Scanperisgh. The
various eagle-oaks in the Forest are comparatively modern, and must not
be confounded with the eagle-oak mentioned by Kemble (as above, vol. i.
p. 480).
Omary Cheese. An inferior sort of cheese, made of skim-milk, called in
most parts of England “skim Dick.” _See_, further on, the word Rammel,
and also Vinney, chap. xvi. p. 190.
Once. Sometime. “I will pay you once this week,” does not mean in
contradistinction to twice, but I will pay you sometime during the week.
Overrunner, An. A shrew mouse, which is supposed to portend ill-luck if
it runs over a person’s foot. In Dorsetshire it is called a “shrocop,”
where the same superstition is believed. _See_ Barnes’ _Glossary of the
Dorset Dialect_, p. 382.
Panshard, or Ponshard, A. Rage, anger. “You have no need to get in a
panshard,” is a most common saying. _See_ “peel,” further on.
Patchy. Testy. Said of people who proverbially “blow hot and cold.”
Peel, A. A disturbance, noise. “To be in a peel,” means, to be in a
passion. Used in much the same sense as the word “pelt,” which is
rightly explained in the glossaries as anger, noise, rage, though it is,
perhaps, more spoken of animals than “peel.” “What a pelt the dog is
making,” that is, barking, would be said rather than “peel.”
Picked. Sharp, pointed. “A picked piece,” means a field with one or more
sharp angular corners.
Pity. Love. “Pity is akin to love,” says Shakspeare, but in the West of
England it is often the same.
Plash, A. A mill-head. Winkton is locally called Winkton Plash, this
exactly corresponding to the Weringetone of _Domesday_, with its two
mills “_ad aulam_.”
Puck, To. To put up sheaves, especially of barley and oats, which are
called “pucks.” Used throughout the West of England in contradistinction
to “hiling,” applied only to wheat, which is placed in “hiles.” In
Dorsetshire, however, this last operation is called “stitching.” _See_
the word “stitch” in Mr. Barnes’ _Glossary of the Dorsetshire Dialect_,
p. 391.
Quar, A. The udder of a cow or sheep, when hard after calving or
lambing. Beer also is said to be “quarred,” when it drinks hard or
rough.
Quat-vessel, The. The meadow-thistle (_Carduus pratensis_), which is
common in the New Forest.
Rammel Cheese. The best sort of cheese, made of cream and new milk, in
contradistinction to Omary, or Arnary, cheese, and Hasskin cheese.
Rammucky. Dissolute, wanton. “A rammucky man,” means a depraved
character.
Ramward, or rather, ramhard. To the right. A corruption of framward, or
fromward. So “toard,” or “toward,” means to the left, that is, towards
you. Both words are used throughout the West of England, and are good
examples of what Professor Müller would call “phonetic decay.” With them
may be compared the sailor’s terms “starboard” and “larboard,” on which
_see_ Wedgwood, _Dict. of English Etymology_, vol. ii., p. 310. _See_,
too, Miss Gurney on the word “woash,” which in the Eastern Counties is
equivalent to “ramward.” _Glossary of Norfolk Words_. _Transactions of
the Philological Society_, 1855, p. 38.
Rantipole, The. The wild carrot (_Daucus carota_), so called from its
bunch of leaves. Used also in Wiltshire. _See_ Hill-trot.
Red Heath. The three heaths which grow in the New Forest—_Erica
tetralix_, _Erica cinerea_, and _Calluna vulgaris_,—are respectively
known as the bell, black, and red heaths.
Reiaves. The boards or rails put round waggons, so as to enable them to
take a greater load. Used throughout the West of England. _See_ Mr.
Barnes’ Glossary under the word Riaves, p. 375.
Rick-rack. This is only used of the weather, as “rick-rack weather,”
that is, stormy, boisterous weather, and far stronger in meaning than
the more common phrase, “cazalty weather.” It is evidently from the
Old-English _réc_, vapoury, cloudy weather, and well serves to explain
the meaning of Shakspeare’s “rack,” a cloud, in the well-known passage
in the _Tempest_ (Act iv. sc. 1), which has given rise to so much
controversy. Miss Gurney (_Transactions of the Philological Society_,
1855, p. 35), notices that “rack” is used in Norfolk for mist driven by
the wind.
Ronge, To. To kick, or play, said of horses.
Rubble, To. To remove the gravel, which is deposited throughout the
Forest in a thick layer over the beds of clay or marl. The gravel itself
is called “the rubblin.”
Rue. A row, or hedgerow. _See_ chap. v. p. 56. In the Forest some of the
embankments, near which perhaps the Kelts and West-Saxons lived, are
called Rew- and Row-ditch. I have, too, heard of attics being called
“lanes,” possibly having reference to the “ruelle” by which the space
between the curtains was formerly called.
Rug-stick, also called a Lug-stick. A bar in the chimney, on which “the
cotterel,” or “iron scale,” or “crane,” as it is also called, to which
the kettle or pot is fastened, hangs. We find the word still used in
America as the “ridge-pole” of the house, which helps us at once to the
derivation.
Scale, or squoyle. _See_ chap. xvi. p. 182.
Scull, A.(From the Old-English _scylan_, and so, literally, a division).
A drove, or herd, or pack of low people, always used in an opprobrious
sense. It is properly applied to fish, especially the grey mullet which
visits the coast in the autumn, and so metaphorically to beggars who go
in companies. Milton uses the word
“——sculls that oft
Bank the mid sea.”
_Paradise Lost_, Book vii.
Shakspeare, too, speaks of “scaled sculls” (_Troilus and Cressida_, Act
v. sc. 5). The expression “school of whales,” which we so often find in
Arctic and whaling voyages is nothing but this word slightly altered.
According to Miss Gurney’s Glossary of Norfolk words (_Transactions of
the Philological Society_, 1855), the word “school” is applied to
herrings on the south-eastern coast. Juliana Berners, in the _Boke of
St. Albans_, curiously enough says that we should speak of “a sculke of
foxes, and a sculle of frerys.”—Quoted in Müller’s _Science of
Language_, p. 61.
Setty. Eggs are said to be “setty” when they are sat upon.
Shammock, To. To slouch. “A shammocking man” means an idle,
good-for-nothing person. Applied also to animals. “A shammocking dog,”
means almost a thievish, stealing dog, thus showing how the word is akin
to shamble, scamble, which last verb also signifies to obtain any thing
by false means.
Shear, after-, The. The second crop of grass. Called in the Midland
Counties “the eddish,” and also the “latter-math,” or “after-math.”
Sheets’-axe, A. An oak apple. _See_ chap. xvi. p. 183.
Shelf, A. A bank of sand or pebbles, or shallow in a river, or even the
ford itself. Milton uses the word in _Comus_:—
“On the tawny sands and shelves.”
Hence we got the adjective “shelvy,” also in common use, and employed by
Falstaffe—“The shore was shelvy and shallow” (_The Merry Wives of
Windsor_, Act iii., sc. 5). It is this latter word, which Mr. Halliwell
and Mr. Wright must mean instead of “shelly,” and which they define as
“an ait in a river.” The word is probably from the same Scandinavian
root as shoal.
Shim. Lean. “He’s a shim fellow,” that is, thin. It is used, I see from
Mr. Cooper’s glossary, for a shadow, in the western division of Sussex;
and I think I have somewhere met with it in the sense of a ghost.
Shoak, Shock, Shuck, Off, To. To break off short. Thus gravel is said to
shock off at any particular stratum, or “list,” or “scale,” as it would
be called. _See_ the following word.
Shock, A. Not applied merely to corn, but to anything else. “A shock of
sand” means a line or band of sand, called also a “list,” or “lissen,”
or “bond,” or “scale,” and sometimes “drive:” which last, however, has a
more particular reference to the direction of the stratum.
Size. Thickness, consistency. “The size of the gruel” means its
consistency.
Skimmer-Cake, A. A small pudding made up from the remnants of another,
and cooked upon a “skimmer,” the dish with which the milk is skimmed.
Nearly equivalent to the “girdle-cake,” north of England.
Skrow. Shattered or battered.
Slab, A. A thick slice, lump, used like squab, which see. Thus we hear
of “a slab of bacon,” meaning a large piece. Opposed to “snoule,” which
signifies a small bit.—“I have just had a snoule,” means I have only had
a morsel.
Slink, A. “A slink of a thing,” in which phrase the word is only found,
is alike applied to objects animate or inanimate, and means either a
poor, weak, starved creature, or anything which is small and not of good
quality.
Slut, A. A noise, sound. “A slut of thunder,” means a clap or peal of
thunder. It is in this sense that the word is most generally used.
Snake-Fern. The hard-fern (_Blechnum boreale_). _See_ “Adder’s-Fern.”
Sniggle, To. To snarl. _See_ chap. xvi., p. 186. Sniggle, A. An eel
peculiar to the Avon. _See_ chap. xii., pp. 125, 126.
Spell, A. A fit, or start. Pain is said to come and go by “spells,” that
is, by shocks at recurring intervals.
Spene, A. In its first sense, like the Old-English _spana_, an udder of
a cow. In its second, the rail of a gate or stile.
Spine-Oak. The heart of oak. This phrase points to the true derivation
of “heart of oak.” The common theory Mr. Wedgwood has rightly classed
under the head of “_False Etymologies_.” _See_ _Transactions of the
Philological Society_, 1855. No. 6, pp. 62, 63.
Spire-Bed, A. A place where the “spires,” that is, the reed-canary grass
(_Phalaris arundinacea_), grow; exactly equivalent to the Old-English
_hreod-bedd_. On the outskirts of the New Forest at Redbridge, formerly
Redford—Hreodford, literally, the ford of reeds—the Test is to this day
full of the same “spires,” from which our forefathers gave the place its
name. The river Caundle, in Dorsetshire, still, too, full of spire-beds,
tells of a similar derivation, not from the Teutonic, but the Keltic.
The phrase “spire-bed,” or “spear-bed field,” is very common, meaning a
particular field, near where the “spires” grow, which are used by
plasterers and thatchers in their work.
Spith. (Another form of pith, from the Old-English “piða”). Strength,
force.
Sprack. Not only quick, lively, brisk, active, as given in the
glossaries, but neat, tidy. Used also in this last sense in Wiltshire.
Spratter. The common guillemot (_Uria troile_). In Norfolk (_see_
_Transactions of the Philological Society_, 1855, p. 37) we have
“sprat-mowe,” for a herring-gull; and in Kent, “sprat-loon,” for one of
the grebes.
Squab, A. Anything large. Thus “a squab of a piece,” is constantly used
in this sense. In a different meaning it is confounded with squat. So a
thick-set, heavy person is called a “squab.”
Squoyles. Glances. _See_ chap. xvi., p. 182.
Stabble. Marks, footprints, always used in the plural. This is another
of those onomatopoëtic words which Mr. Wedgwood might add to the forms
step, stamp, stipple, all derived by a similar process. (_See_ the
Introduction to his _Dictionary of Etymology_, p. x.) In an old rhyme,
common in the New Forest, upon a hailstorm, we find the word:—
“Go round the ricks,
And round the ricks,
And make as many stabble
As nine score sheep.”
Starky. Used particularly of land which is stiff or unworkable,
especially after rain, and opposed to “stoachy,” which signifies muddy,
as in the common expression, “What a dreadful stoachy piece of ground.”
Thrifty. Still used in its old derivative sense of thriving, and so
flourishing. Once or twice I have heard it applied to physical health,
in the sense of being well, or “pure,” as is the more common saying.
Tine, To. To tine a candle, does not now so much mean to light, from the
Old-English _tendan_, to set on fire, as to snuff it.
Tuffet, A. A lump of earth, or hillock. Hence we have “tuffety,” in the
sense of uneven, or covered with hillocks.
Tuly. Weak, ailing. More common in the north of England. _See_
“Kittering.”
Twiddle, To. To whistle. “The robins are twiddling,” is a common phrase,
and which fact is said to be a sign of rain.
Vinney-Cheese. _See_ chap. xvi., p. 190.
Wag, A. A breath, a slight wind. “A wag of air,” means a gentle draught
of air. In Dorsetshire we still have “wag-wanton” applied to the
quaking-grass (_Briza media_). _See_ Barnes’ _Glossary of the
Dorsetshire Dialect_, p. 404.
Wase, A. A very small bundle of straw, more particularly a wisp for
cleaning a horse. Used also, according to Mr. Cooper, in Sussex.
Water-Tables. The side dikes along the road, which carry off the water.
Common throughout the West of England.
Weald, To. To bring corn or hay into swathe, before putting it, as it is
called, into “puck,” which see.
Wean-Gate, A. (From the Old-English _wæn-geat_, literally, the
waggon-door.) The tail-board, or ladder of a waggon.
Well-Crook, A. A stick for ladling the water out of the shallow Forest
pools and wells. Called in the Midland and Northern Counties a
“lade-gorn;” and formerly “a well graper.” (_See_ Froude’s _History of
England_, vol. i. p. 41, foot-note.)
Wimble, A. In addition to auger, as given in Wright and Halliwell’s
dictionaries, an instrument with which to take up faggots or trusses of
hay.
Wivvery. Giddy. “My head is wivvery,” is no uncommon expression. To
wivver, given by Wright and Halliwell as used in Kent, is more
especially employed here of the quivering flight of hawks, particularly
of the kestrel and hen-harrier.
Wosset, A. A small ill-favoured pig. The smallest pig in a “trip,” to
use a West-Country term for a litter, is known as the “doll,” the same
as the “nessle-tripe” of Dorsetshire; whilst a pig brought up by hand is
called a “graff,” or “grampher,” equivalent to “mud,” in the phrase
“mud-lamb,” or “mud-calf,” as also “sock,” and “sockling,” and
“tiddling,” used in various counties.
Yape, To. Not merely to gossip, as given by Mr. Cooper in his _Sussex
Glossary_, but to loiter. To yape about is used very much as is
shammock, which see.
Yaw, To. To chop, reap. Used of cutting corn, peas, or beans. “Hacking,”
however, is generally the term applied to harvesting the last, when the
reapers use two hooks, one to cut, and the other, an old one, to pull up
the halm.
[Illustration: The Staple Cross, near Christchurch.]
APPENDIX II.
THE FLOWERING PLANTS OF THE NEW FOREST DISTRICT.
These lists are not by any means put forward as exhaustive. Subsequent
investigations must very much increase them. Still, I trust they will be
found sufficient for botanists to generalize from, and useful as guides
to beginners. To the kindness of the Rev. H. M. Wilkinson, of Bisterne,
I am much indebted, as will be seen, for many new species and
localities, as also for the special arrangement of the _Gramineæ_,
_Cyperaceæ_, and _Juncaceæ_.
The nature of the country will best help us to make the divisions.
First, we have the true Forest district, with its heath, and bog, and
woodland plants; and next the valley of the Avon, with its
meadow-flowers; and, thirdly, the littoral plants, which we will at once
take.
Glaucium luteum, Scop., Yellow-horned Poppy. Leap. Eaglehurst, 46.[293]
Cakile maritima, Scop., Purple Sea-rocket. The sea-shore, Mudeford, 55.
Crambe maritima, Lin., Sea Kale. The sea-shore near Calshot and
Eaglehurst, where, as Bromfield remarks (Flora Vectensis, p. 48), the
young shoots are bleached by being covered with shingle, and then sent
to the Southampton market, 56.
Cochlearia officinalis, Lin., Common Scurvy Grass. Hurst Castle, 72.
Cochlearia anglica, Lin., English Scurvy Grass, Mudeford. R. Stevens,
Esq., 72 d.
Raphanus maritimus, Sm., Sea Radish. Mudeford, 124.
Silene maritima, With., Sea Bladder Campion. The Shingles. Hurst Castle,
153.
Honckeneja peploides, Ehrh., Sand Chickweed. Common on the coast, 173.
Spergularia marina, Camb., Sea Spurrey. Mudeford, 174.
Althæa officinalis, Lin., Marsh Mallow. Salt marshes of the Beaulieu
river, 208.
Lavatera arborea, Lin., Tree Mallow. Hurst Castle, where Ray saw it.
_See_, however, Bromfield in _Phytologist_, vol. iii. p. 270; 210.
Anthyllis vulneraria, Lin., Common Lady’s Fingers. Barton Cliffs, 257.
Tamarix gallica, Sm. “On the beach near Hurst Castle.” Garnier and
Poulter. Milford. Probably naturalized, as on the opposite coast near
Yarmouth. “The Lymington Salterns,” Rev. H. M. Wilkinson. _See_,
however, Bromfield, in _Phytologist_, vol. iii. p. 212; 392.
Eryngium maritimum, Lin., Sea Holly. Mudeford, 444.
Fœniculum vulgare, Gærtn, Common Fennel. Purewell Road, Christchurch,
476.
Apium graveolens, Lin., Wild Celery. “Marchwood,” W. A. Broomfield.
“Mudeford and Beaulieu,” Rev. H. M. Wilkinson, 450.
Œnanthe Lachenalii, Gmel., Lachenal’s Dropwort. “Mudeford,” Rev. H. M.
Wilkinson, 471.*
Carduus tenuiflorus, Curt., Small-flowered Thistle. Lanes near the
sea-coast, 597.
Artemisia maritima, Lin., Sea Wormwood. “The coast.” W. Pamplin. “Salt
marshes near Millbrook,” W. A. Bromfield; quoted in the _New Botanist’s
Guide_, 624.
Aster Tripolium, Lin. Sea Starwort. Very common in the rivers at
Beaulieu and Lymington, 641.
Inula crithmoides, Lin., Golden Samphire. Key Haven and Hurst Beach,
where Ray saw it, 657.
Convolvulus Soldanella, Lin., Sea Bindweed. Hurst Castle. Mudeford, 731.
Glaux maritima, Lin., Sea Milkwort or Glasswort. Hurst Castle, Beaulieu
Estuary, 894.
Armeria maritima, Aut., Common Thrift. Hordle and Barton Cliffs,
Beaulieu Estuary, 895.
Statice Limonium, Lin., Sea Lavender. On this and _S. rariflora_, _see_
Bromfield, in _Phytologist_, vol. iii. p. 742; 897.
Plantago maritima, Lin., Sea Plantain. The Beaulieu Estuary, 904.
Chenopodium olidum, Curt., Stinking Goosefoot. Mr. Wilkinson gives “the
seaside, Beaulieu,” 908.
Atriplex portulacoides, Lin. Hurst Castle, where I first saw it in 1859,
with Mr. Lees, 918.
Atriplex Babingtonii, Wds., “Mudeford,” Rev. H. M. Wilkinson, 921.
Atriplex littoralis, Lin., Grass-leaved Sea Orache. Estuary of the
Beaulieu river, 924.
Beta maritima, Lin., Sea Beet. Mudeford, 925.
Salsola Kali, Lin., Prickly Saltwort. The sea-shore, Mudeford, 926.
Schoberia maritima, Mey., Sea Goosefoot. Estuary, 927.
Salicornia herbacea, Lin., Jointed Glasswort. “The Beaulieu river,” Rev.
H. M. Wilkinson, 939.
Polygonum maritimum, Lin., Sea Knot Grass. “Mudeford,” Borrer, C. C.
Babington. (_See_ Watson’s _New Botanist’s Guide_, Supplement, vol. ii.
p. 570.) The Rev. W. M. Wilkinson has found it on the other side of the
harbour at Hengistbury Head, 940.
Polygonum Raii, Bab. “Mudeford,” Borrer, and R. Stevens, Esq., 940.*
Asparagus officinalis, Lin., Common Asparagus. “At Christchurch,”
Garnier and Poulter.
Triglochin maritimum, Lin., Sea Arrow Grass. Marshes of the Beaulieu
river, 1115.
Zostera marina, Lin., Narrow Grass Wrack. Southampton water, Hythe,
1137.
Juncus maritimus, Sm., Lesser Sharp Sea Rush. Beaulieu river, 1154.
Scirpus Savii, S. and M., Savis’ Club Rush. _See_ Bromfield, in
_Phytologist_, vol. iii. p. 1030; 1187.
Scirpus maritimus, Lin., Salt Marsh Club Rush. Mudeford, 1190.
Carex extensa, Good., Long Bracteated Carex. “The Beaulieu river,” Rev.
H. M. Wilkinson, 1235.
Ammophila arundinacea, Host., Sea Reed. The loose sand, Mudeford, where
it grows with _Triticum junceum_, 1293.
Glyceria maritima, M. and K., Sea Hard Grass. Mudeford, 1323.
Glyceria loliacea, Watson, Dwarf Sea-wheat Grass. “Mudeford. On the New
Forest side of the Avon, which is the only place I have ever seen it.”
Rev. H. M. Wilkinson, 1327.
Triticum junceum, Lin., Rushy Sea-wheat Grass. Mudeford, 1362.
Hordeum maritimum, With., Sea Barley. Very common along the whole of the
east coast. “By the roadside from Cadenham” (more probably Hythe) “to
Marchwood,” W. A. Bromfield. _See_ Watson’s _New Botanist’s Guide_, vol.
ii., p. 571.; 1369.[294]
Lepturus filiformis, Trin., Sea Hard-grass. Mudeford, 1371.
In the next division are placed more especially those plants which
either grow only in the Forest, or form a peculiar feature in its
landscapes, such as _Eriophorum angustifolium_, _Gentiana Pneumonanthe_,
_Drosera rotundifolia_, and _intermedia_, _Narthecium ossifragum_,
_Melittis Melissophyllum_, and the _Carices_, _Airæ_, and _Agrostes_
generally. The rest will be found in the third division, as common both
to the Forest and the adjoining districts. As the Ferns and St.
John’s-worts have been so fully mentioned in Chapter XXI., they will not
be again noticed.
Anemone nemorosa, Lin., Wood Anemone, 6.
Ranunculus aquatilis, Lin., Water Crowfoot. Streams and pools, not of
course confined to the Forest, but still a conspicuous feature, 11.
Ranunculus tripartitus, D. C., Three-parted-leaved Crowfoot, “with
_Limosella aquatica_, in splashy places by the roadside, just beyond the
bridge, as you leave Brockenhurst for Lyndhurst,” H. C. Watson, in a
private letter, 11.*
Ranunculus hirsutus, Curt., Hairy Crowfoot. Roads in the Forest, 22.
Caltha palustris, Lin., Common Marsh Marigold. Forest pools; but, of
course, in the district generally, 26.
Aquilegia vulgaris, Lin., Common Columbine. Very common round Wootton,
but may be found with _Hypericum androsæmum_ in the old woods of Mark
Ash, Gibb’s Hill, Winding Shoot, and Boldrewood, 31.
Nymphæa alba, Lin., White Water Lily. Forest streams. Not so common as
the next, but still a feature, 36.
Nuphar luteum, Sm., Yellow Water Lily. In the Avon, and elsewhere in the
district, 37.
Viola canina, Sm., Dog’s Violet. The violet of the Forest, but, of
course, common in the district, 135.
Viola lactea, Sm., Cream-coloured Violet. “Near Boldre,” W. A.
Bromfield. _See_ Watson’s _New Botanist’s Guide_, vol. ii., p. 567;
135.*
Drosera rotundifolia, Lin., Round-leaved Sundew. Everywhere in the
Forest, 138.
Drosera intermedia, Hayn., Narrow-leaved Sundew. Though not so common as
_rotundifolia_, it is equally distributed throughout the Forest
district, 139.
Polygala vulgaris, Lin., Common Milkwort, 141.
Mœnchia erecta, Sm., Upright Mœnchia. Common, 166.
Sagina subulata, Wimm., Ciliated Awl-shaped Spurrey, 170.*
Spergularia rubra, St. Hilaire, Purple Sandwort, 175.
Cerastium semidecandrum, Lin., Little Mouse-ear Chickweed, 194.
Cerastium tetrandrum, Curt., Four-cleft Mouse-ear Chickweed, 194.*
Linum angustifolium, Huds., Narrow-leaved Flax, 201.
Radiola millegrana, Sm., Thyme-leaved Flax-seed. Common. The Rev. P.
Somerville pointed it out to me in Beacon Bunny, growing close to the
sea, 203.
Tilia intermedia, D. C., Common Lime, 212.
Acer campestre, Lin., Field Maple. Rather plentiful in some of the
woods, 225.
Geranium pratense, Lin., Meadow Crane’s-bill. On a rubbish heap, near
Alum Green, where it had been naturalized, 231.
Oxalis Acetosella, Lin., Wood-sorrel. Very common, 243.
Euonymus Europæus, Lin., Spindle Tree. Here and there a specimen may be
seen, as at the north side of Wootton Enclosure, near the Osmanby Ford
River, 245.
Rhamnus Frangula, Lin., Alder Buckthorn, 247.
Spartium scoparium, Lin., Common Broom, 248.
Ulex Europæus, Lin., Furze, 249.
Ulex nanus, Forst., Dwarf Furze. If any one wishes to see the difference
between this and _Europæus_ he should visit the Forest at the end of
August or the beginning of Sept., 250.
Genista tinctoria, Lin., Dyers’ Green Weed. Common on the southern parts
of the Forest, 251.
Genista anglica, Lin., Petty Whin. Everywhere, 253.
Trifolium striatum, Lin., Soft Knotted Trefoil, 277.
Trifolium fragiferum, Lin., Strawberry-headed Trefoil. Ashley Common,
280.
Trifolium glomeratum, Lin., Smooth round-headed Trefoil, 278.
Orobus tuberosus, Lin., Common Bitter Vetch, 312.
Prunus spinosa, Lin., Sloe-tree, 314.
Prunus avium, Lin., Wild Cherry. Burley, 316.*
Potentilla Tormentilla, Schk., Common Tormentil, 332.
Comarum palustre, Lin., Purple Marsh Cinquefoil. Bog of the Osmanby Ford
River, below Wootton Enclosure, 334.
Fragaria vesca, Lin., Strawberry, 335.
Rubus Idæus, Lin., Raspberry. Young plantations, especially near
Boldrewood, 339.
Rubus fruticosus, Aut, Common Bramble, 340.
Rubus suberectus, Aud., Red-fruited Bramble. Wootton Enclosures, where
it was first pointed out to me in 1859 by Mr. Lees, 340 (3).
Rosa spinosissima, Lin., Burnet-leaved Rose. Not uncommon round Ashley
and Wootton, 341.
Cratægus Oxyacantha, Lin., Common Hawthorn, 360.
Pyrus Malus, Lin., Wild Crab, 363.
Pyrus torminalis, Sm., Wild Service Tree, 364.
Pyrus Aria, Sm., White Beam, 365.
Pyrus Aucuparia, Gært., Mountain Ash. Probably naturalized, 366.
Epilobium montanum, Lin., Mountain Willow Herb, 370.
Isnardia palustris, Lin., Marsh Isnardia. Found at Brockenhurst by Mr.
Borrer; _Phytologist_, vol. iii. p. 368. _See_ also iv. p. 754; 376.
Circæa lutetiania, Lin., Enchanter’s Nightshade. In most of the old
woods, 377.
Lythrum salicaria, Lin., Purple Willow Herb. The Forest pools, 390.
Tillæa muscosa, Lin., Moss-like Tillæa. Everywhere in the Forest, 407.
Hedera Helix, Lin., Common Ivy, 438.
Cornus sanguinea, Lin., Cornel-tree, 439.
Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Lin., Marsh Pennywort. Throughout the Forest, 441.
Sanicula Europæa, Lin., Wood Sanicle. In most of the old woods, 442.
Viscum album, Lin., Mistletoe. Grows chiefly on the black poplar,
especially near Godshill. I have never seen it on the oak. Abundance of
it may be found in the apple-trees in the Forest keeper’s garden at
Boldrewood, 503.
Sambucus nigra, Lin., Common Elder, 504.
Sambucus Ebulus, Lin., Danewort. “Near Lyndhurst,” T. B. Rake, Esq.,
505.
Viburnum Opulus, Lin., Guelder Rose, 506.
Lonicera Periclymenum, Lin., Common Honeysuckle, 508.
Galium verum, Lin., Ladies’ Bed-straw, 513.
Hieracium vulgatum, Freis., Wood Hawkweed, 568 (24).
Serratula tinctoria, Lin., Saw-wort. Throughout the Forest, 594.
Carduus Marianus, Lin., Blessed Thistle. Forest roadsides, 598.
Carduus pratensis, Huds., Meadow Thistle. Abundant in the southern part
of the Forest round Wootton, 604.
Bidens cernua, Lin., Nodding Bur Marigold. Waste lands round and in the
Forest. Has a fine effect on the landscape near Godshill; common,
however, throughout the district, 617.
Eupatorium cannabinum, Lin., Hemp Agrimony. Gives a rich appearance to
the Forest streams; but, of course, abundant elsewhere, 619.
Filago minima, Fries. The Least Cudweed, 634.
Solidago Virgaurea, Lin., Golden Rod. Throughout the Forest, 642.
Senecio sylvaticus, Lin., Wild Groundsel. This plant, with the common
nettle, is especially remarkable in the Forest, as an indication of the
former existence of habitations. It may be noticed in Sloden, Eyeworth,
and Island’s Thorn, near the Romano-British potteries. (_See_ ch. xviii.
p. 216, foot-note.)
Achillea Ptarmica, Lin., Sneese-wort. Throughout the Forest, 671.
Campanula rotundifolia, Lin., Nodding-flowered Hare-bell, 675.
Jasione montana, Lin., Sheep’s-bit Scabious, 687.
Erica Tetralix, Lin., Cross-leaved Heath, 690.
Erica cinerea, Lin., Fine-leaved Heath, 692.
Calluna vulgaris, Salisb., Common Ling, 695.
Vaccinium Myrtillus, Lin., the Bilberry; better known in the Forest as
the “Blackheart,” 703.
Ilex Aquifolium, Lin., Common Holly. Most abundant, 713.
Fraxinus excelsior, Lin., Common Ash. Scarce, 715.
Vinca minor, Lin., Lesser Periwinkle. Hedges round and in the Forest, as
at Sway, Ashley, Canterton, 716.
Gentiana Pneumonanthe, Lin., Calathian Violet. Very plentiful some years
at Wootton, 719.
Cicendia filiformis, Reich., Least Gentianella. Damp places in the
Forest. Rev. H. M. Wilkinson gives especially the neighbourhood of
Burley, 723.
Menyanthes trifoliata, Lin., Common in most of the Forest pools on the
South, 727.
Cuscuta Epithymum, Sm., Lesser Dodder. Distributed through the Forest,
on the heath and furze, 734.
Verbascum Blattaria, Lin., Moth Mullein. Not common in the Forest. I
have seen a few specimens on Ashley Common; but, in 1861, a field near
the new parsonage was covered with it and the viper’s bugloss. Mr. Rake
has found it growing at Gorely, on the north-west side of the Forest,
744.
Veronica scutellata, Lin., Narrow-leaved Marsh Speedwell. Not common.
Mr. Wilkinson gives marshy spots near Sandford and Crow, on the borders
of the Forest, 753.
Euphrasia officinalis, Lin., Common Eyebright, 766.
Melampyrum pratense, Lin., Meadow Cow Wheat, 770.
Pedicularis palustris, Lin., Marsh Lousewort, 772.
Pedicularis sylvatica, Lin., Common Lousewort, 773.
Digitalis purpurea, Lin., Purple Foxglove, 778.
Limosella aquatica, Lin., Common Mudwort. Found by Mr. H. C. Watson on
the road from Brockenhurst to Lyndhurst, after you pass the bridge from
the former place, 788.
Orobanche major, Angl., Great Broom-rape. On the furze, especially in
the northern parts of the Forest, 790.
Mentha aquatica, Lin., Water Mint, but of course throughout the
district, 806.
Mentha pratensis, Sole, Meadow Mint. I give this on the authority of
Sole, quoted by Dawson Turner, as found in the Forest, 807 e.
Mentha Pulegium, Lin., Pennyroyal. Not uncommon, especially in wet
places on the southern parts of the Forest, round Wilverley and
Holmsley, 809.
Thymus Serpyllum, Lin., Wild Thyme, 810.
Calamintha Clinopodium, Spen., Wild Basil, 815.
Melittis Melissophyllum, Lin., Bastard Balm. Very plentiful on the outer
bank of Wootton Enclosure, looking westward, 817.
Teucrium Scorodonia, Lin., Wood Sage, 818.
Stachys Betonica, Benth., Wood Betony, 836.
Scutellaria minor, Lin., Lesser Skull-cap. Damp places in the Forest,
especially round Wootton, 846.
Pulmonaria angustifolia, Lin., Narrow-leaved Lungwort. Very common round
Wootton, both with and without spots on the leaves. (_See_ Watson’s _New
Botanist’s Guide_, vol. ii., p. 569; and the _Cybele Britannica_, vol.
iii., p. 488), 868.
Pinguicula Lusitanica, Lin., Pale Butterwort. Bogs round Wootton; Ashley
Common, where the Rev. P. Somerville first pointed it out to me. Mr.
Wilkinson also gives Sandford and Crow as localities, 874.
Utricularia vulgaris, Lin., Water Milfoil. Pools in the southern part of
the Forest, as also on Ashley Common, 875.
Utricularia minor, Lin., Smaller Bladderwort. Hinchelsea Bog, where I
found it in 1859, with Mr. Lees. The Rev. H. M. Wilkinson gives also
ponds near Burley, and Mr. Somerville ponds at the Osmanby Ford stream,
877.
Primula vulgaris, Huds., Common Primrose, 878.
Lysimachia nemorum, Lin., Wood Loosetrife, 889.
Anagallis tenella, Lin., Bog Pimpernel. In all the boggy places, 891.
Centunculus minimus, Lin., Chaffweed, 892.
Samolus Valerandi, Lin., Brookweed. Found it, with Mr. Lees, on Ashley
Common, June 14, 1859. “The Beaulieu River,” Rev. H. M. Wilkinson. It
shows a decided partiality for the southern part towards the sea, 893.
Littorella lacustris, Lin., Common Shore-weed, 905.
Euphorbia amygdaloides, Lin., Wood Spurge, 974.
Mercurialis perennis, Lin., Perennial Mercury, 976.
Quercus Robur, Lin., the Oak, 988.
Quercus sessiliflora, Sm., Sessile-fruited Oak. The finest in the Forest
are now in the Brook Woods, 988 c.
Fagus sylvatica, Lin., the Beech, 989.
Carpinus Betulus, Lin., Hornbeam. Scarce, 990.
Corylus Avellana, Lin., Hazel, 991.
Alnus glutinosa, Lin., Common Alder, 992.
Betula alba, Lin., Common Birch, 993.
Populus alba, Lin., White Poplar, 995.
Populus tremula, Lin., Aspen, 997.
Populus nigra, Lin., Black Poplar, 998.
Salix viminalis, Lin., Common Osier, 1007.
Salix repens, Lin., Creeping Willow, 1017.
Myrica Gale, Lin., Bog Myrtle. The “Gold Withy” of the Forest, 1023.
Spiranthes autumnalis, Rich., Late-flowering Lady’s Tresses. Very common
in the pastures near the Forest, and on the turfy spots of the Forest
lanes on the southern part, 1033.
Spiranthes æstivalis, Rich., Early-flowering Lady’s Tresses. Found by
Bromfield and Mr. Bennett in bogs near Lyndhurst toll-gate.
_Phytologist_, vol. iii. p. 909; iv. p. 754; 1034.
Epipactis latifolia, Sm. Chewton Glen and woods running into the Forest.
The Rev. P. Somerville also gives Ashley Common, 1039.
Orchis latifolia, Lin., Broad-leaved Meadow Orchis. Hinchelsea Bog. Mr.
Wilkinson also gives the neighbourhood of Burley, 1052.
Gymnadenia Conopsea, Br., Fragrant-scented Orchis. Very plentiful on the
south side of the railway, between Burley and Batson’s Clump, about a
quarter of a mile above the large “Shade pond.” To be found also between
Bushy Bratley and Boldrewood, 1054.
Habenaria bifolia, Br. Common in most of the open parts of the Forest,
1055.
Gladiolus Illyricus, Koch. First discovered in the Forest by the Rev. W.
H. Lucas. (_See Phytologist_, Sept., 1857.) Road from Boldrewood to
Lyndhurst; path from Liney Hill Wood to Rhinefield; Oakley Plantation,
near Boldrewood; and the neighbourhood of the Knyghtwood Oak, where Mr.
Rake and myself saw it in great abundance, July 11, 1862. In all these
localities it is confined to the light sand, growing especially amongst
the common brake, and seldom, if ever, extends into the heather, which
grows close round. On some specimens which I forwarded, Mr. Watson
observes, in speaking of the distinction between _Gladiolus imbricatus_
and _Illyricus_:—“The New Forest plant has the obovate capsules, hardly
so much keeled, however, as described by French botanists, unless the
keel becomes sharper with advancing age.”
Narcissus pseudo-narcissus, Lin., Daffodil. South side of the Forest
near Wootton, 1073.
Hyacinthus non-scriptus, Lin., Bluebell, 1093.
Ruscus aculeatus, Lin., Butcher’s Broom. The “Kneeholm” of the Forest,
1097.
Hydrocharis Morsus-ranæ, Lin., Common Frog-bit, 1107.
Alisma ranunculoides, Lin. Ashley and Chewton Commons. Pulteney gives
“Sopley, near the Avon,” 1110.
Actinocarpus Damasonium, Br., Star-headed Water Plantain. “Barton
Common,” the Rev. P. Somerville, 1112.
Potamogeton plantagineus, Ducroz., Plantain-leaved Pond-weed. Boggy
streams, 1134.
Typha latifolia, Lin., Reed-mace, 1147.
Typha angustifolia, Lin., Lesser Reed-mace. Ponds at Wootton, 1148.
Juncus squarrosus, Lin., Moss-rush Goose-corn, 1163.
Luzula sylvatica, Bich., Great Wood Rush, 1169.
Luzula pilosa, Willd., Broad-leaved Hairy Wood Rush, 1170.
Narthecium ossifragum, Huds., Lancashire Bog Asphodel, 1175.
Schænus nigricans, Lin., Black Bog Rush. Bogs round Holmsley, 1179.
Rhynchospora alba, Vahl., White Beak Rush, 1180.
Rhynchospora fusca, Sm., Brown Beak Rush. Valley of the Osmanby Ford
stream, Rev. H. M. Wilkinson, 1181.
Scirpus setaceus, Lin., Bristle-stalked Club Rush, 1186.
Scirpus cæspitosus, Lin., Scaly-stalked Club Rush, 1196.
Scirpus fluitans, Lin., Floating Club Rush, 1198.
Eriophorum angustifolium, Rh., Common Cotton Grass, 1200.
Carex pulicaris, Lin., Flea Carex, 1205.
Carex stellulata, Good., Little Prickly Carex, 1209.
Carex ovalis, Good., Oval-spiked Carex, 1211.
Carex remota, Lin., Remote Carex. The Forest streams, 1214.
Carex intermedia, Good., Soft brown Carex. Boggy places, 1217.
Carex arenaria, Lin., Sea Carex. The south side of the Forest, towards
the sea.
Carex divulsa, Good., Grey Carex, 1221.
Carex vulpina, Lin., Great Compound Prickly Carex, 1222.
Carex flava, Lin., Yellow Carex, 1234.
Carex fulva, Good., Tawny Carex, 1249.
Carex panicea, Lin., Pink-leaved Carex, 1241.
Carex sylvatica, Huds., Pendulous Wood-Carex, 1247.
Carex Pseudo-cyperus, Lin., Cyperus-like Carex, 1249.
Carex glauca, Scop., Glaucous Heath Carex, 1250.
Carex hirta, Lin., Hairy Carex, 1257.
Carex paludosa, Good., Lesser Common Carex, 1260.
Carex riparia, Curtis., Great Common Carex, 1261.
Phalaris arundinacea, Lin., Reed Canary Grass, 1269.
Agrostis setacea, Curtis., Bristle-leaved Bent Grass. Broomy and
Bratley. “Near Lymington,” Turner, 1289.
Agrostis canina, Lin., Brown Bent Grass, 1290.
Agrostis vulgaris, With., Common Bent Grass, 1291.
Agrostis alba, Lin., Marsh Bent Grass, 1292.
Arundo Calamagrostis, Lin., Purple-flowered Small Reed. “Near
Marchwood,” W. A. Bromfield, 1295.
Aira cæspitosa, Lin., Turfy Hair Grass, 1300.
Aira flexuosa, Lin., Wavy Hair Grass, 1302.
Aira caryophyllea, Lin., Silver Grass, 1303.
Aira præcox, Lin., Early Hair Grass, 1304.
Triodia decumbens, Beauv., Decumbent Heath Grass, 1315.
Molinia cœrulea, Mœnch., Heath Purple Melic Grass, 1319.
Festuca bromoides, Lin., Barren Fescue Grass, 1341.
Festuca ovina, Lin., Sheep’s Fescue Grass, 1342.
Festuca rubra, Lin., Creeping Fescue Grass, 1344.
Nardus stricta, Lin., Common Mat Grass, 1370.
Pilulifera globulifera, Lin., Pillwort or Peppergrass. Bogs round
Holmsley, 1419.
Equisetum limosum, Lin., Smooth Naked Horsetail, 1425.
Proceeding now to the plants of the Valley of the Avon, and the
cultivated districts round Christchurch, and Lymington, and Beaulieu, we
shall be able to see those colonists which follow the footsteps of man,
the pascual flowers of the meadows, and the Flora of the Avon. Where not
particularly named, the plants are in many cases found also distributed
in the Forest; but, being on the whole more characteristic of the
Valley, are therefore inserted in this list.
Thalictrum flavum, Lin., Common Meadow Rue, 4.
Adonis autumnalis, Lin., Common Pheasant Eye. Mudeford, 9.
Myosurus minimus, Lin., Least Mouse-tail. Cornfields round Milton, 10.
Ranunculus hederaceus, Lin., Ivy-leaved Crowfoot, 13.
Ranunculus Ficaria, Lin., Common Pilewort, 14.
Ranunculus Flammula, Lin., Lesser Spearwort, 15.
Ranunculus Lingua, Lin., Greater Spearwort. Used to be very common on
Ashley Common (now enclosed), growing in the pools with _Osmunda
regalis_, 16.
Ranunculus acris, Lin., Upright Meadow Crowfoot, 19.
Ranunculus repens, Lin., Creeping Crowfoot, 20.
Ranunculus bulbosus, Lin., Bulbous Crowfoot, 21.
Ranunculus sceleratus, Lin., Celery-leaved Crowfoot, 23.
Ranunculus parviflorus, Lin., Small-flowered Crowfoot. “Hedgebanks
between Bisterne and Ringwood,” Rev. H. M. Wilkinson. Ray and Bromfield
give Lymington, 24.
Papaver Argemone, Lin., Long-headed Rough Poppy, 40.
Papaver dubium, Lin., Long Smooth-headed Poppy, 41.
Papaver Rhæas, Lin., Field Poppy, 42.
Chelidonium majus, Lin., Common Celandine, 45.
Corydalis claviculata, D. C., White-flowered Fumitory, 48.
Fumaria capreolata, Lin., Ramping Fumitory, 50.
Fumaria officinalis, Lin., Common Fumitory, 51.
Coronopus Ruellii, Lin., Common Wart-Cress, 58.
Thlaspi asvense, Lin., Penny-Cress, 60.
Capsella Bursa pastoris, D. C., Shepherd’s Purse, 63.
Lepidium Smithii, Hook., Smith’s Peppermint, 69.
Lepidium campestre, Br., Field Mustard, 70.
Draba verna, Lin., Common Whitlow Grass, 79.
Cardamine pratensis, Lin., Lady’s Smock, 85.
Cardamine hirsuta, Lin., Hairy Marsh Butter-Cress, 86.
Arabis thaliana, Lin., Common Thale-Cress, 88.
Barbarea vulgaris, Br., Common Winter Cress, 95.
Barbarea præcox, Br., Early Winter or American Cress. “Grows on the
bridge at Christchurch,” Rev. H. M. Wilkinson, 97.
Nasturtium officinale, Br., Water Cress, 98.
Nasturtium terrestre, Br., Land Cress, 99.
Sisymbrium officinale, Scop., Common Hedge Mustard, 102.
Erysimum Alliaria, Lin., Hedge Garlic, 107.
Cheiranthus Cheiri, Lin., Wallflower. Walls of the Priory Church,
Christchurch, 109.
Sinapis Arvensis, Lin., Wild Mustard, 116.
Raphanus Rhaphanistrum, Lin., Wild Radish, 123.
Helianthemum vulgare, Gært., Common Rock Rose, 128.
Viola tricolor, Lin., Heartsease, 136.
Viola hirta, Lin., Hairy Violet. “Grows at Bisterne,” Rev. H. M.
Wilkinson. On the specific distinctions between this and the next, see
what my friend the late Mr. Cheshire said in the _Phytologist_.
Viola odorata, Lin., Sweet Violet, 135.
Dianthus plumarius, Lin., Feathered Pink. Cloister walls, Beaulieu, 147.
Dianthus Armeria, Lin., Debtford Pink. First discovered by T. B. Rake,
Esq., on a bank in a lane near the Hucklebrook, Fordingbridge, where I
saw it, with him, growing, June, 1862.
Saponaria officinalis, Lin., Common Soapwort. The Christchurch and
Ringwood Road, near the latter place; Bashley, 151.
Silene inflata, Sm., Bladder Catch-fly, 152.
Silene Anglica, Lin., English Catch-fly, 155.
Lychnis Flos-cuculi, Lin., Ragged Robin, 162.
Lychnis diurna, Sibth., Red Campion, 163.
Lychnis vespertina, Sibth., White Campion, 164.
Lychnis Githago, Lam., Corn Cockle, 165.
Sagina procumbens, Lin., Procumbent Pearlwort, 167.
Sagina apetala, Lin., Erect Pearlwort, 169.
Sagina nodosa, Lin., Knotted Spurrey, 171.
Spergula arvensis, Lin., Common Spurrey, 172.
Arenaria serpyllifolia, Lin., Thyme-leaved Sandwort, 178.
Arenaria trinervis, Lin., Plantain-leaved Sandwort, 182.
Stellaria media, With., Common Chickweed, 185.
Stellaria Holostea, Lin., Greater Stitchwort, 186.
Stellaria glauca, With., Glaucous Stitchwort, 187.
Stellaria graminea, Lin., Grassy-leaved Stitchwort, 188.
Stellaria uliginosa, Murr., Bog Stitchwort, 189.
Cerastium aquaticum, Lin., Water Chickweed, 191.
Cerastium glomeratum, Thuil., Broad-leaved Mouse-ear Chickweed, 192.
Cerastium triviale, Link., Narrow-leaved Mouse-ear Chickweed, 193.
Linum catharticum, Lin., Purging Flax, 202.
Malva moschata, Lin., Musk Mallow. Lanes near the Forest, 204.
Malva sylvestris, Lin., Common Mallow, 205.
Malva rotundifolia, Lin., Round-leafed Dwarf Mallow, 206.
Erodium cicutarium, Sm., Hemlock Stork’s-bill, 228.
Geranium pusillum, Lin., Small-flowered Crane’s-bill, 234.
Geranium molle, Lin., Common Dove’s-foot Crane’s-bill, 235.
Geranium dissectum, Lin., Jagged-leaved Crane’s-bill, 236.
Geranium columbinum, Lin., Long-stalked Crane’s-bill, 237.
Geranium lucidum, Lin., Shining-leaved Common Crane’s-bill. In the
neighbourhood of Fordingbridge, Mr. Rake found it growing abundantly,
June 17, 1862, the only station of which I am aware.
Geranium Robertianum, Lin., Herb Robert, 239.
Ononis arvensis, Lin., Rest Harrow, 254.
Medicago sativa, Lin., Lucern, 258.
Medicago lupulina, Lin., Black Medick, 260.
Melilotus officinalis, Willd., Common Melilot, 264.
Trifolium repens, Lin., White Trefoil, 267.
Trifolium subterraneum, Lin., “Gravelly pastures at Bisterne.” Rev. H.
M. Wilkinson, 268.
Trifolium pratense, Lin., Purple Clover, 271.
Trifolium arvense, Lin., Hare’s-foot Trefoil, 275.
Trifolium procumbens, Lin., Hop Trefoil, 281.
Trifolium minus, Relh., Lesser Yellow Trefoil, 282.
Lotus major, Scop., Large Bird’s-foot Trefoil, 284.
Lotus corniculatus, Lin., Common Bird’s-foot Trefoil, 283.
Ornithopus perpusillus, Lin., Bird’s-foot, 291.
Vicia Cracca, Lin., Tufted Vetch, 297.
Vicia sativa, Lin., Common Vetch, 298.
Vicia sepium, Lin., Bush Vetch, 301.
Vicia hirsuta, Koch., Hairy-podded Tare, 303.
Vicia tetrasperma, Koch., Smooth-podded Tare, 304.
Lathyrus pratensis, Lin., Meadow Vetchling, 308.
Spiræa Ulmaria, Lin., Meadowsweet, 317.
Spiræa salicifolia, Lin., Willow-leaved Spiræa. “Grows near Bisterne,
but perhaps not truly wild,” Rev. H. M. Wilkinson, 319.
Geum urbanum, Lin., Herb Bennet, 321.
Geum rivale, Lin., Water Avens, 322.
Agrimonia Eupatoria, Lin., Common Agrimony, 323.
Potentilla anserina, Lin., Silverweed, 327.
Potentilla argentea, Lin., Horny Cinquefoil. Sandy fields in the
neighbourhood of the Forest, 328.
Potentilla reptans, Lin., Creeping Cinquefoil, 331.
Potentilla fragariastrum, Eh., Barren Strawberry, 333.
Rubus corylifolius, Sm., Hazel-leaved Bramble, 340 (36).
Rubus cæsius, Lin., Dewberry, 340 (38).
Rosa canina, Lin., Dog-rose, 351.
Rosa arvensis, Lin., Trailing Dog-rose, 353.
Poterium Sanguisorba, Lin., Common Salad Burnet, 355.
Alchemilla arvensis, Lam., Parsley Piert, 358.
Epilobium angustifolium, Lin., French Willow-Herb, 367.
Epilobium hirsutum, Lin., Great Hairy Willow-Herb, 368.
Epilobium parviflorum, Schreb., Small-flowered Willow-Herb, 369.
Epilobium palustre, Lin., Marsh Willow-Herb, 372.
Epilobium tetragonum, Lin., Square-stalked Willow-Herb (?), 373.
Myriophyllum verticillatum, Lin., Whorl-flowered Water Milfoil,
“Sopley,” Garnier and Poulter, Rev. H. M. Wilkinson, 380.
Myriophyllum spicatum, Lin., Spiked Water Milfoil, 381.
Callitriche verna, Lin., Vernal Water Starwort, 383.
Peplis portula, Lin., Water Purslane, 391.
Bryonia dioica, Lin., White Briony, 393.
Montia fontana, Lin., Water Blinks, 394.
Claytonia perfoliata, Don., American Salad. First discovered by Mr.
Hussey near Mudeford (_see_ _Phytologist_, N. S. vol. i. p. 389). I
received specimens from Dr. Stevens gathered at the same place, May
11th, 1862.
Scleranthus annuus, Lin., Annual Knawel, 399.
Ribes rubrum, Lin., Red Currant. With the next “at Bisterne, apparently
wild,” Rev. H. M. Wilkinson, 404.
Ribes Grossularia, Lin., Gooseberry, 406.
Sedum telephium, Lin., Everlasting Orpine, 409.
Sedum Anglicum, Huds., English Stonecrop. “Avon Tyrrell,” Rev. H. M.
Wilkinson, 412.
Sedum acre, Lin., Biting Stonecrop, 414.
Sedum reflexum, Lin., Crooked Yellow Stonecrop. This is only a casual
escape. And, perhaps, like _Sempervivum tectorum_, ought to be excluded.
_See_ Bromfield in _Phytologist_, vol. iii. pp. 372, 416.
Cotyledon Umbilicus, Lin., Common Navelwort. “Road from Redbridge into
the New Forest,” W. Pamplin, quoted in Watson’s _New Botanist’s Guide_;
“Dragon Lane, Bisterne,” Rev. H. M. Wilkinson, 418.
Saxifraga tridactylites, Lin., Rue-leaved Saxifrage, 430.
Chrysoplenium oppositifolium, Lin., Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage,
434.
Adoxa moschatellina, Lin., Tuberous Moschatel, 437.
Conium maculatum, Lin., Common Hemlock, 446.
Helosciadium nodiflorum, Koch., Procumbent Marshwort, 454.
Helosciadium inundatum, Koch., Least Water Marshwort, 455.
Ægopodium podagraria, Lin., Common Gout-weed, 457.
Bunium flexuosum, With., Earth-Nut, 461.
Pimpinella Saxifraga, Lin., Common Burnet Saxifrage, 462.
Sium angustifolium, Lin., Narrow-leaved Water-Parsnep, 465.
Œnanthe fistulosa, Lin., Common Water-Dropwort, 470.
Œnanthe pimpinelloides, Lin., Parsley Water-Dropwort. Plentiful round
Milford in 1859. _See_ Bromfield in _Phytologist_, vol. iii. p. 405,
471.
Œnanthe crocata, Lin., Water Hemlock, 473.
Œnanthe Phellandrium, Lin., Fine-leaved Water-Dropwort, 474.
Æthusa cynapium, Lin., Fools’ Parsley, 475.
Angelica sylvestris, Lin., Wild Angelica, 482.
Heracleum Sphondylium, Lin., Cow Parsnep, 487
Daucus Carota, Lin., Common Carrot, 489.
Torilis anthriscus, Gærtn., Upright Hedge Parsley, 493.
Torilis infesta, Spr., Spreading Hedge Parsley, 494.
Torilis nodosa, Gærtn., Knotted-Hedge Parsley, 495.
Scandix Pecten, Lin., Shepherd’s Needle, 496.
Anthriscus vulgaris, Pers., Common Beaked Parsley, 497.
Anthriscus sylvestris, Hoff., Wild Chervil, 498.
Chærophyllum temulentum, Lin., Hare’s Parsley, 500.
Galium palustre, Lin., Marsh Goose-Grass, 515.
Galium uliginosum, Lin., Rough Marsh Bed-Straw, 516.
Galium saxatile, Lin., Mountain Bed-Straw. Perhaps this ought rather to
come under the head of Forest Plants, 517.
Galium mollugo, Lin., Great Hedge Bed-Straw, 519.
Galium aparine, Lin., Goose-Grass, 523.
Sherardia arvensis, Lin., Field Madder.
Asperula odorata, Lin., Scented Woodruff, 527.
Valeriana dioica, Lin., Marsh Valerian, 531.
Valeriana officinalis, Lin., Common Valerian, 532.
Fedia olitoria, Vahl., Lamb’s Lettuce, 534.
Fedia dentata, Bieb., Oval-fruited Corn Salad, 537.
Dipsacus sylvestris, Lin., Teasel, 539.
Dipsacus pilosus, Lin., Shepherd’s Rod. “Woods near Hale,” T. Beaven
Rake, 540.
Scabiosa succisa, Lin., Devil’s-bit Scabious, 541.
Knautia arvensis, Coult., Field Scabious, 543.
Tragopogon pratensis, Lin., Meadow Goat’s Beard, 544.
Helminthia echioides, Gærtn, Echium-like Ox-tongue. Efford Mill,
Pennington, 546.
Thrincia hirta, Roth., Rough Thrincia, 548.
Apargia hispida, Willd., Rough Hawkbit, 549.
Apargia autumnalis, Willd., Autumnal Hawkbit, 550.
Hypochæris radicata, Lin., Long-rooted Cat’s-ear, 553.
Lactuca muralis, Less., Wall Lettuce. Beaulieu and Ellingham churches,
557.
Sonchus arvensis, Lin., Field Sow Thistle, 559.
Sonchus asper, Hoffm., Rough Sow Thistle, 560.
Sonchus oleraceus, Lin., Sow Thistle, 561.
Crepis virens, Lin., Smooth Crepis, 563.
Hieracium Pilosella, Lin., Mouse-ear Hawkweed, 568.
Hieracium umbellatum, Lin., Narrow-leaved Hawkweed. “Bisterne,” Rev. H.
M. Wilkinson.
Hieracium boreale, Fries., “Bisterne,” Rev. H. M. Wilkinson.
Taraxacum officinale, Wigg., Dandelion, 588.
Lapsana communis, Lin., Nipplewort, 590.
Cichorium intybus, Lin., Common Chicory, 591.
Arctium Lappa, Lin., Burdock, 592.
Carduus nutans, Lin., Nodding Thistle. Roadsides round the Forest, 595.
Carduus lanceolatus, Lin., Spear Thistle, 599.
Carduus palustris, Lin., Marsh Thistle, 601.
Carduus arvensis, Lin., Field Thistle, 602.
Carduus acaulis, Lin., Dwarf Thistle, 606.
Onopordum acanthium, Lin., Cotton Thistle, 608.
Carlina vulgaris, Lin., Common Carline Thistle, 609.
Centaurea nigra, Lin., Black Knapweed, 611.
Centaurea Cyanus, Lin., Cornflower, 612.
Centaurea Scabiosa, Lin., Great Knapweed, 613.
Bidens tripartita, Three-lobed Bur-marigold, 618.
Tanacetum vulgare, Lin., Common Tansy, 622.
Artemisia vulgaris, Lin., Mugwort, 626.
Gnaphalium sylvaticum, Lin., Upright Cudweed, 630.
Gnaphalium uliginosum, Lin., Marsh Cudweed, 632.
Filago germanica, Lin., Erect Cudweed, 635.
Tussilago Farfara, Lin., Common Coltsfoot, 637.
Erigeron acris, Lin., Blue Fleabane. “Near Milton,” Rev. P. Somerville,
639.
Senecio vulgaris, Lin., Groundsel, 643.
Senecio Jacobæa, Lin., Ragwort, 648.
Senecio aquaticus, Huds., Water Ragwort. “Bisterne,” Rev. H. M.
Wilkinson, 648.*
Inula Conyza, D. C., Ploughman’s Spikenard. “Sopley,” Rev. H. M.
Wilkinson, 656.
Pulicaria dysenterica, Gærtn., Common Fleabane, 658.
Pulicaria vulgaris, Gærtn., Small Fleabane. “Marchwood,” W. A. Bromfield
(_Phytologist_, vol. iii. p. 433); “Bisterne,” Rev. H. M. Wilkinson,
659.
Bellis perennis, Lin., Common Daisy, 660.
Chrysanthemum segetum, Lin., Corn Marigold, 661.
Chrysanthemum Leucanthemum, Lin., Great Ox-eye Daisy, 662.
Pyrethrum Parthenium, Sm., Feverfew, 663.
Pyrethrum inodorum, Sm., Scentless Feverfew, 664.
Matricaria Chamomilla, Lin., Wild Chamomile, 665.
Anthemis nobilis, Lin., Common Chamomile, 666.
Anthemis arvensis, Lin., Corn Chamomile, 668.
Anthemis Cotula, Lin., Stinking Mayweed, 669.
Achillea Millefolium, Lin., Yarrow, 672.
Campanula patula, Lin., Spreading Bell-flower. Avon Tyrrell, 676.
Specularia hybrida, D. C., Venus’s Looking-glass. “Corn-fields near
Sandford,” Rev. H. M. Wilkinson, 684.
Ligustrum vulgare, Lin., Common Privet, 714.
Erythræa Centaurium, Pers., Common Centaury, 724.
Chlora perfoliata, Lin., Perfoliate Yellow-wort, 725.
Convolvulus arvensis, Lin., Small Bindweed, 729.
Convolvulus sepium, Lin., Great Bindweed, 730.
Hyoscyamus niger, Lin., Henbane. Roadside bank near Ibbesley, 736.
Datura Stramonium, Lin., Thorn Apple. Near Ringwood, on the Christchurch
road.
Solanum nigrum, Lin., Black Nightshade, 737.
Solanum Dulcamara, Lin., Woody Nightshade, 738.
Verbascum Thapsus, Lin., Taper Moth Mullein, 740.
Verbascum nigrum, Lin., Black Moth Mullein, 743.
Veronica arvensis, Lin., Wall Speedwell, 747.
Veronica serpyllifolia, Lin., Thyme-leaved Speedwell, 750.
Veronica Anagallis, Lin., Water Speedwell, 754.
Veronica Beccabunga, Lin., Brooklime, 755.
Veronica officinalis, Lin., Common Speedwell, 756.
Veronica Chamædrys, Lin., Germander Speedwell, 758.
Veronica hederifolia, Lin., Ivy-leaved Speedwell, 759.
Veronica agrestis, Lin., Procumbent Speedwell, 760.
Veronica Buxbaumii, Ten., Buxbaum’s Speedwell. Mr. Rake found it in
abundance not far from Fordingbridge, March, 1862, 762.
Bartsia odontites, Huds., Red Rattle, 765.
Rhinanthus Crista-galli, Lin., Meadow Rattle, 767.
Scrophularia nodosa, Lin., Knotty-rooted Figwort, 774.
Scrophularia aquatica, Lin., Water Figwort, 775.
Antirrhinum Orontium, Lin., Field Snap-dragon. Milton and Somerford,
780.
Linaria Cymbalaria, Mill., Wall Toad-flax, 781.
Linaria Elatine, Mill., Sharp-pointed Toad-flax, 783.
Linaria repens, Ait., Creeping Toad-flax. “Marchwood,” Borrer, 784.
Linaria vulgaris, Mill., Common Toad-flax, 785.
Orobanche minor, Sutt., Lesser Broom-rape, 793.
Verbena officinalis, Lin., Common Vervain, 798.
Salvia verbenaca, Lin., Wild Clary. Roads near Christchurch; keep of
Christchurch Castle; Beaulieu Churchyard, 799.
Lycopus Europæus, Lin., Gipsy-wort, 801.
Mentha sativa, Lin., Hairy Water Mint, 807.
Mentha arvensis, Lin., Field Mint, 808.
Calamintha Acinos, Clairv., Basil Thyme. Fernhill Lane, 812.
Calamintha officinalis, Angl., Officinal Calamint. Avon Tyrrel, 814.
Ajuga reptans, Lin., Common Bugle, 822.
Ballota nigra, Lin., Black Horehound, 825.
Lamium album, Lin., White Dead Nettle, 828.
Lamium amplexicaule, Lin., Henbit, 830.
Lamium purpureum, Lin., Red Henbit, 831.
Galeopsis Tetrahit, Lin., Common Hemp Nettle, 834.
Stachys palustris, Lin., Marsh Woundwort, 837.
Stachys sylvatica, Lin., Hedge Woundwort, 838.
Stachys arvensis, Lin., Field Woundwort, 840.
Glechoma hederacea, Lin., Ground Ivy, 841.
Nepeta Cataria, Lin., Catmint. Near Bisterne, 842.
Marrubium vulgare, Lin., Common Horehound, 843.
Prunella vulgaris, Lin., All-heal, 844.
Scutellaria galericulata, Lin., Common Skull-cap. Chewton Glen, Beckton
Bunny, 845.
Myosotis palustris, With., Forget-me-not, 847.
Myosotis cæspitosa, Schultz, Marsh Mouse Ear, 849.
Myosotis arvensis, Hoff., Field Marsh Ear, 852.
Myosotis collina, Hoff., Dwarf Mouse Ear, 853.
Myosotis versicolor, Lehm., Yellow and Blue Mouse Ear, 854.
Lithospermum arvense, Lin., Field Gromwell, 856.
Symphytum officinale, Lin., Common Comfrey, 859.
Borago officinalis, Lin., Common Borage, 861.
Lycopsis arvensis, Lin., Ox-tongue, 862.
Cynoglossum officinale, Lin., Common Hound’s-tongue, 866.
Echium vulgare, Lin., Viper’s Bugloss, 869.
Primula veris, Lin., Cowslip, 880.
Lysimachia vulgaris, Lin., Yellow Loosestrife, 886.
Lysimachia nummularia, Lin., Moneywort, 888.
Anagallis arvensis, Lin., Poor Man’s Weather Glass, 890.
Plantago major, Lin., Greater Plantain, 901.
Plantago media, Lin., Hoary Plantain. “Beaulieu, on the clay,” Rev. H.
M. Wilkinson.
Plantago lanceolata, Lin., Rib Grass, 903.
Plantago Coronopus, Lin., Buckthorn Plantain, 905.
Chenopodium urbicum, Lin., Erect Goose-foot, 910.
Chenopodium rubrum, Lin., Red Goose-foot, 911.
Chenopodium album, Lin., White Goose-foot, 914.
Chenopodium Bonus-Henricus, Lin., Good King Henry, 917.
Atriplex hastata, Lin., Narrow-leaved Orache, 922.
Atriplex patula, Lin., Spreading Orache, 923.
Polygonum amphibium, Lin., Amphibious Persicaria, 933.
Polygonum lapathifolium, Lin., Pale-flowered Persicaria, 934.
Polygonum Persicaria, Lin., Spotted Persicaria, 935.
Polygonum Hydropiper, Lin., Biting Persicaria, 937.
Polygonum aviculare, Lin., Common Knot Grass, 938.
Polygonum Convolvulus, Lin., Black Bindweed. On the difference between
this and _C. dumetorum_, _see_ Dr. Bromfield in the _Phytologist_, vol.
iii. p. 765.
Rumex Hydrolapathum, Huds., Great Water Dock. The Avon, 943.
Rumex crispus, Lin., Curled Dock, 944.
Rumex obtusifolius, Lin., Blunt-leaved Dock, 947.
Rumex sanguineus, Lin., Blood-veined Dock, 948.
Rumex conglomeratus, Mur., Sharp-leaved Dock, 948.*
Rumex Acetosa, Lin., Common Sorrel, 951.
Rumex Acetosella, Lin., Sheep’s Sorrel, 952.
Euphorbia helioscopia, Lin., Sun Spurge, 962.
Euphorbia exigua, Lin., Dwarf Spurge. Near the coast, 971.
Euphorbia Peplus, Lin., Petty Spurge, 972.
Urtica urens, Lin., Annual Stinging Nettle, 978.
Urtica dioica, Lin., Perennial Stinging Nettle, 979.
Parietaria officinalis, Lin., Common Pellitory. Walls of Beaulieu Abbey,
982.
Humulus lupulus, Lin., Hop, 983.
Ulmus campestris, Sm., Common Elm. Rare in the Forest, 985a.
Salix cinerea, Lin., Grey Sallow, 1010.
Listera ovata, Br., Common Twayblade. Meadows round Christchurch, 1038.
Epipactis palustris, Sw., Marsh Helleborine. Chewton Glen. Rare. Mr.
Rake, however, has found it growing abundantly in the neighbourhood of
Fordingbridge, August, 1862, 1040.
Orchis Morio, Lin., Green-winged Meadow Orchis, 1045.
Orchis mascula, Lin., Early Purple Orchis, 1046.
Orchis maculata, Lin., Spotted Palmate Orchis, 1053.
Iris Pseudacorus, Lin., Flag Water Iris, 1067.
Galanthus nivalis, Lin., Common Snowdrop. “Bisterne, apparently wild,
though it has, doubtless, at some time or another, been planted,” Rev.
H. M. Wilkinson, 1074.
Allium vineale, Lin., Common Garlic, 1083.
Ornithogalum umbellatum, Lin., Common Star of Bethlehem. “Bisterne. Not
truly wild,” Rev. H. M. Wilkinson, 1090.
Tamus communis, Lin., Black Bryony, 1104.
Anacharis Alsinastrum, Bab., Chickweed-like American Weed. R. Stevens,
Esq., M.D., found this straggler, “July 23rd, 1862, at Knapp Mill, in a
ditch leading out of the Avon,” 1107.*
Alisma Plantago, Lin., Greater Water Plantain, 1109.
Sagittaria sagittifolia, Lin., Arrow Head. The Avon, 1113.
Butomus umbellatus, Lin., Flowering Rush. The Avon, 1114.
Triglochin palustre, Lin., Marsh Arrow Grass. Banks of the Avon, 1116.
Potamogeton densus, Lin., Close-leaved Pond Weed, 1118.
Potamogeton crispus, Lin., Curled Pond-weed, 1124.
Potamogeton perfoliatus, Lin., Perfoliate Pond Weed, 1125.
Potamogeton lucens, Lin., Shining Pond Weed, 1126.
Potamogeton natans, Lin., Broad-leaved Pond Weed, 1132.
Zannichellia palustris, Lin., Horned Pond Weed, 1136.
Lemna minor, Lin., Lesser Duckweed, 1138.
Lemna polyrhiza, Lin., Greater Duckweed, 1140.
Lemna trisulca, Lin., Ivy-leaved Duckweed. The Avon, 1141.
Arum maculatum, Lin., Cuckoo-pint, 1142.
Sparganium simplex, Huds., Unbranched Bur-reed, 1145.
Sparganium ramosum, Huds., Branched Bur-reed. Found it, with Mr. Lees,
in ponds at Wootton, 1147.
Juncus conglomeratus, Lin., Common Rush, 1151.
Juncus effusus, Lin., Soft Rush, 1151.
Juncus glaucus, Sibth., Hard Rush, 1152.
Juncus acutiflorus, Ehrh., Sharp-flowered jointed Rush, 1156.
Juncus lamprocarpus, Ehrh., Shining-fruited jointed Rush, 1157.
Juncus supinus, Mœnch., Whorl-headed Rush, 1159.
Juncus compressus, Jacq., Round-fruited Rush, 1160.
Juncus bufonius, Lin., Toad Rush, 1162.
Luzula campestris, “Br.,” Field Wood Rush, 1172.
Scirpus lacustris, Lin., Bull Rush. The Avon, 1184.
Carex paniculata, Lin., Great Panicled Carex. “Chewton Glen,” Rev. H. M.
Wilkinson, 1224.
Carex vulgaris, Fries., Tufted Bog Carex, 1228.
Carex pallescens, Lin., Pale Carex, 1236.
Carex præcox, Jacq., Vernal Carex, 1251.
Carex pilulifera, Lin., Reed-headed Carex, 1252.
Leersia oryzoides, Sw., Leersia. “Bisterne and Sopley,” Rev. H. M.
Wilkinson; “Brockenhurst,” _Phytologist_, vol. iv. p. 754; 1262.*
Anthoxanthum odoratum, Lin., Sweet-scented Vernal Grass, 1271.
Phleum pratense, Lin., Meadow Timothy Grass, 1273.
Alopecurus pratensis, Lin., Meadow Fox-tail Grass. Rare in the Forest,
1278.
Alopecurus geniculatus, Lin., Floating Fox-tail Grass, 1279.
Alopecurus agrestis, Lin., Slender Fox-tail Grass, 1282.
Arundo Phragmites, Lin., Common Reed, 1294.
Arundo Epigejos, Lin., Wood Reed, 1296.
Avena flavescens, Lin., Yellow Oat Grass, 1311.
Arrhenatherum avenaceum, Beauvois, Oat-like Grass, 1312.
Holcus lanatus, Lin., Meadow Soft Grass, 1313.
Holcus mollis, Lin., Creeping Soft Grass, 1314.
Catabrosa aquatica, Presl., Water Whorl Grass, 1320.
Glyceria aquatica, Sm., Reed Meadow Grass, 1321.
Glyceria fluitans, Br., Floating Sweet Grass, 1322.
Poa annua, Lin., Annual Meadow Grass, 1328.
Poa pratensis, Lin., Smooth-stalked Meadow Grass, 1331.
Poa trivialis, Lin., Roughish Meadow Grass, 1332.
Briza media, Lin., Common Quaking Grass, 1335.
Briza minor, Lin., Small Quaking Grass. “Corn-fields round Marchwood,
perhaps introduced with the grain,” W. A. Bromfield, 1336.
Cynosurus cristatus, Lin., Crested Dog’s Tail Grass, 1337.
Dactylis glomerata, Lin., Rough Cock’s-foot Grass, 1339.
Festuca pratensis, Huds., Meadow Fescue Grass, 1347.
Festuca loliacea, Huds. “Common at Bisterne,” Rev. H. M. Wilkinson, 1347
b.
Bromus giganteus, Lin., Tall Fescue Grass, 1348.
Bromus sterilis, Lin., Barren Brome Grass, 1350.
Bromus secalinus, Lin., Smooth Rye Brome Grass, 1354.
Bromus mollis, Lin., Soft Brome Grass, 1356.
Bromus racemosus, Lin.(?) “Common at Bisterne,” Rev. H. M. Wilkinson,
1356 b.
Brachypodium sylvaticum, Beauv., Slender False Brome Grass, 1357.
Triticum caninum, Huds., Fibrous-rooted Wheat Grass, 1359.
Triticum repens, Lin., Creeping Wheat Grass, 1360.
Lolium perenne, Lin., Common Rye Grass, 1363.
Hordeum pratense, Huds., Meadow Barley, 1367
Hordeum murinum, Lin., Wall Barley, 1368.
Equisetum Telmateia, Ehrh., Great Horsetail, 1420.
Equisetum arvense, Lin., Field Horsetail, 1422.
Equisetum palustre, Lin., Marsh Horsetail, 1424.
The following additions to the list of Forest plants have been kindly
sent by H. C. Watson, Esq., all noticed by himself in August, 1861,
within three or four miles of Brockenhurst:—
Nasturtium amphibium, Br., Great Yellow Cress, 101.
Viola flavicornis, Sm., Dwarf Yellow-spurred Violet, 135 b.
Epilobium roseum, Schreb., Pale Smooth-leaved Willow Herb, 371.
Epilobium obscurum, Schreb. (For a description of this plant, see
_Phytologist_, new series, vol. ii. p. 19.) 373 b.
Euphrasia gracilis, Fr., 766 b.
Polygonum minus, Huds., Small Creeping Persicaria. (Bromfield in the
_Flora Vectensis_, p. 433, mentions it as growing in the Island.) 938.
Carex binervis, Sm., Green-ribbed Carex, 1239.
Bromus asper, Lin., Hairy Wood Brome Grass, 1349.
To these also may be added _Coronopus didyma_, mentioned by Bromfield
(_Phytologist_, vol. iii. p. 210) as found along the coast, but which
will, perhaps, be met inland.
[Illustration: Gladiolus Illyricus.]
APPENDIX III.
LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE NEW FOREST DISTRICT.
The best plan is, perhaps, to arrange the birds in groups, and to give a
short analysis of each section, so that the reader may be able to see at
a glance the more characteristic as well as rarer species. We will first
of all take the Residents. In making out this list I have been
principally guided—with of course certain exceptions—by the rule of
admitting every bird whose nest has been found upon reliable evidence,
as we may be sure that for one nest which is discovered a dozen or more
remain undetected.
Peregrine Falcon. (_Falco peregrinus_, Gmel.) As this bird breeds so
near, both in the Isle of Wight and along the Dorsetshire coast, it may
be considered as a resident. From different lists before me, ranging
over several years, it appears to have been shot and trapped in the
Forest at all seasons.
Merlin. (_Falco æsalon_, Gmel.) _See_ Chapter XXII., pp. 266, 267.
Kestrel. (_Falco tinnunculus_, Lin.) Numerous.
Sparrow Hawk. (_Falco nisus_, Lin.) More abundant than even the kestrel,
especially in the southern part of the Forest.
Common Buzzard. (_Falco buteo_, Lin.) Breeds in nearly all the old
woods, but is becoming scarce. _See_ Chapter XXII., p. 265.
Marsh Harrier. (_Circus æruginosus_, Lin.) Rare.
Hen Harrier. (_Circus cyaneus_, Lin.) _See_ Chapter XXII., p. 268. This
bird has become much more numerous of late. No less than six or seven
pairs were, I am sorry to say, trapped last year.
Long-Eared Owl. (_Strix otus_, Lin.) Not unfrequent. I have found it
nesting round Mark Ash and Boldrewood. Mr. Rake tells me that Amberwood
is also a favourite breeding station.
Barn Owl. (_Strix flammea_, Lin.) Not so common as might be expected.
Tawny Owl. (_Strix aluco_, Lin.) The most common of the three. Very
often this bird may be seen during the day in the Forest mobbed by
thrushes and blackbirds, and taking refuge in some of the large
ivy-bushes.
Missel Thrush. (_Turdus viscivorus_, Lin.) Known throughout the Forest
as the “Bull thrush.”
Song Thrush. (_Turdus musicus_, Lin.)
Blackbird. (_Turdus merula_, Lin.)
Robin Redbreast. (_Sylvia rubecula_, Lath.)
Stonechat. (_Sylvia rubicula_, Lath.) Mr. Rake tells me that it breeds
rather plentifully round Ogdens and Frogham, about two miles from
Fordingbridge. I have also had the eggs brought me from Wootton.
Dartford Warbler. (_Sylvia provincialis_, Ks. and Bl.) Is sometimes very
common in the Forest, and is generally to be seen in company with the
whinchat. In some years, as in 1861, it is scarce. I have its nest, with
two eggs, in my collection, taken by Mr. Farren, on Lyndhurst Heath,
April 29th, 1862; but it is always difficult to find, as the bird
frequents, in the breeding season, the thickest part of the high furze.
Goldencrested Regulus. (_Regulus cristatus_, Koch.) Not uncommon. Known
throughout the Forest as “The thumb bird.”
Great Titmouse. (_Parus major_, Lin.)
Blue Titmouse. (_Parus cæruleus_, Lin.)
Cole Titmouse. (_Parus ater_, Lin.) Far more common than the next.
Marsh Titmouse. (_Parus palustris_, Lin.)
Long-tailed Titmouse. (_Parus caudatus_, Lin.) Known throughout the
Forest as the “Long-tailed caffin,” or “cavin.”
Pied Wagtail. (_Motacilla Yarrellii_, Gould.) Partially migratory.