JUKE. 205 



The Hymenophyllacece, or Filmy Ferns, of which 

 two species only are British, must be sought in wet 

 alpine spots, among black dripping rocks, where the 

 clouds are often resting, and continually oozing their 

 moisture among the saturated patches of moss. I 

 gathered the dark and sad looking Hymenophyllum 

 Wilsoni in considerable plenty, a few years ago, on 

 the rocks that overhang the roaring Rhyddol, on the 

 opposite side of the torrent at the appalling hollow 

 of Pont Bren, near the Devil's Bridge, Cardiganshire; 

 and since abundantly on the damp rocks above Llyn 

 Cae on Cadir Idris. H. tunbridgense grows in the 

 shadowy parts of that most romantic and beautiful 

 dingle called "The Torrents," which every rambler 

 should visit, in the vicinity of Dolgelle, Merio- 

 nethshire. 



The PolypodiacecB are all known from having their 

 fructification in clusters at the back of the frond, 

 which gives them so peculiar an aspect. It is these 

 that form those masses of russet fern, which in the 

 autumnal months gives so mellow a hue to the fore- 

 ground of forest scenery, and even embrowns the pre- 

 viously purple hills. The naming autumnal gorse 

 well contrasts with the burnt sienna of the fading 

 brake, and exhibits one of those beautiful artistic 

 harmonies so well known to the student of nature. 

 Every heath and damp alder copse is then strewn 

 with the crisp Eagle Brake (Pteris aquilina), the rigid 

 Hard Fern (Blecknum boreale), or waves with the 

 deep green fronds of the Great Shield Fern (Aspi- 

 dium dilatatim). Even the driest walls offer a conve- 

 nient nidus to the Rue-leaved Spleenwort (Asplenium 

 ruta-muraria), or to the Scaly Hart's- tongue 



