Primitiae florae sarnicae, or, an outline of the flora of the Channel Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, and Serk. Containing a catalogue of the plants indigenous to the islands: with occasional observations upon their distinctive characters, affinities, and nomenclature / By Charles C. Babington.

  • Babington, Charles C. (Charles Cardale), 1808-1895.
Date:
1839
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Primitiae florae sarnicae, or, an outline of the flora of the Channel Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, and Serk. Containing a catalogue of the plants indigenous to the islands: with occasional observations upon their distinctive characters, affinities, and nomenclature / By Charles C. Babington. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    13/156
    Firmly convinced that the geological structure of a country exerts great influence upon vegetation, but being unfortunately quite unacquainted with the geology of crystalline rocks, I applied to my excellent friend, F. C. Lukis, Esq. of Guernsey, (who has paid great attention to the structure of his native islands, and indeed to nearly every department of their Natural History and Antiqui- ties,*) and he has kindly favoured me with the following sketch of the geology of the Channel , Islands. “The islands which compose this group are situate within the line of the primary section of rocks, which is found to extend across the British Channel from Devonshire to Cherbourg, and which is immediately followed to the eastward by the secondary formation : this boundary line may be taken from the river Tamer, in Devon, to the junction of the slate and sandstone with the Granite near Cherbourg. The rocks thus held within this area, may be stated to belong to the primary formation, but they differ in some par- ticulars from those of Cornwall on one side, and those of Britany on the other. “ I prefer adopting the characteristic distinctions observable in the constitution of Granites, and unite that of the coast of Cherbourg with that of Guernsey, Herm, Serk, and Jethou, leaving Alder- • It is to be hoped that Mr. Lukis will soon favour the scientific world with a detailed account of the Antiquities, Geology, Conchology, and Crustacea of Guernsey, in all which departments his collections are peculiarly rich. 63