In the department of Natural History, this district possesses but little which is deserving of particular notice.
Of Birds there are none which can now be considered peculiar to this part, the drainage of the fen lands having entirely banished the great variety of aquatic birds which used, previous to that event, to be found here.
The Plants, indigenous to this district, are very numerous. From a list of several hundreds which are to be found in the neighbourhood, the following interesting ones are selected.
| Botanical Names.
| English Names.
| Where found.
|
| Arabis thaliana
| Codded mouse-ear
| Horncastle
|
| Asplenium adiantum nigrum
| Black maiden-hair
| Tattershall
|
| Asplenium ruta muraria
| Wall-rue
| Somersby Church
|
| Atropa belladonna
| Deadly nightshade
| Miningsby
|
| Borago officinalis
| Borage
| West Ashby
|
| Butomus umbellatus
| Flowering rush
| Horncastle, Thornton
|
| Carduus marianus
| Milk thistle
| Stovin Wood, Kirkstead
|
| Chlora perfoliata
| Yellow centaury
| Edlington
|
| Chironia pulchella
| Small chironia
| Horncastle
|
| Cistus helianthemum
| Little sunflower
| Scrivelsby
|
| Comarum palustre
| Purple marsh-cinquefoil
| West Ashby furze-hill
|
| Convallaria majalis fl. pl.
| May-lily (double flower)
| Highall Wood
|
| Daphne laureola
| Spurge laurel
| Poolham
|
| Digitalis purpurea
| Purple fox-glove
| Holbeck, Salmonby,
|
| Drosera longifolia
| Long leaved sun-dew
| Tattershall
|
| Drosera rotundifolia
| Round-leaved sun-dew
| Tattershall
|
| Empetrum nigrum
| Blackberried heath
| Moor
|
| Erica cinerea
| Fine-leaved heath
| Ditto
|
| Erica tetralix
| Cross-leaved heath
| Ditto
|
| Galeobdolon luteum
| Yellow nettle
| Tetford Wood
|
| Gentiana amarella
| Autumnal gentian
| Greetham, Hemingby
|
| Gentiana pneumonanthe
| Calathian violet
| Tattershall-park, Moor
|
| Malaxis paludosa
| Marsh tway-blade
| Moor
|
| Nuphar lutea
| Yellow water-lily
| West Ashby
|
| Nymphæa alba
| White water-lily
| Ditto
|
| Ophrys apifera
| Bee orchis
| Mareham-le-fen
|
| Orchis conopsea
| Aromatic orchis
| Thimbleby, Edlington
|
| Orobus tuberosus
| Wood peas
| Daw Wood
|
| Oxalis acetosella
| Wood sorrel
| Tetford Wood
|
| Paris quadrifolia
| Herb Paris
| Ditto
|
| Parnassia palustris
| Grass of Parnassus
| Horncastle
|
| Pinguicula vulgaris
| Butterwort
| Ditto
|
| Polygonum bistorta
| Greater bistort
| Horncastle
|
| Sanicula Europea
| Sanicle
| Stovin & Tetford Woods
|
| Saponaria officinalis
| Soapwort
| Baumber, Horncastle
|
| Spirea filipendula
| Dropwort
| Bridle road to Hemingby
|
| Turritis hirsuta
| Hairy tower mustard
| High Tointon
|
| Vaccinium oxycoccus
| Cranberry plant
| Moor
|
Minerals occur rarely in this part, and in very small quantities. Lumps of sulphuret of iron in the oolite stratum; earthy oxide of iron and a singular blue pulverulent mineral, which is a carbonate of iron containing some earthy impurities, in a valley at Salmonby; and a stalactitic oxide of iron in the ferruginous gravel; comprise all the varieties which have yet been found.
Although Organic Remains are to be found in some parts of this district in considerable quantities, yet they do not include many varieties. The following list of those now in the possession of the author, comprises one of almost every species which has yet been found.
From the Chalk Stratum. No 2.
Teeth of the Squalus or Shark.
An Impression of a Vertebræ.
A Terebratula subundata.