210 WILD FLOWEES OF 



the sulky Spleenwort still pertinacious to its haunts, 

 exists there, but on the side of the dusty road curls 

 up, and shrinks from view into the deepest crevices, 

 from which it can scarcely be dragged out by the 

 botanist by main force. 



The Athyrium filix-fcemina or Lady-Pern, is the 

 Queen of British Ferns, exquisitely and superemi- 

 nently tall, delicate, and beautiful. Though by no 

 means uncommon, yet it is only in wild rocky soli- 

 tudes secluded from the glare of day, soothed by 

 babbling water, and nursed in delicious scented shade, 

 that it attains in perfection, that character entitling 

 it fully to the appellation adverted to. Some years 

 since in a delightful exploration of Glyn Clydacli, on 

 the borders of Monmouthshire and Breconshire, I 

 gathered some splendid specimens of this description, 

 far superior to the more common varieties, which, 

 when too densely covered with sori, as they often are 

 in open heathy spots, have rather a coarse and inele- 

 gant aspect.* 



The Grlyn is not always explorable, but at this time 

 the stream that waters it was low, and by leaping and 

 climbing from rock to rock, over many a still pool and 

 up many a frothy water-break, our party at last gained 

 its innermost recesses. It was a burning summer's 

 day, and looking up to the mural precipices of moun- 

 tain limestone on either side, tufted here and there 

 with Tew or daring "White-beam above a jutting crag, 

 on to the scanty cleft of blue the opposing cliffs 

 afforded, not a trace of cloud could be noticed upon 

 the sky. We threaded our way on the shadowy side 



* A rare and very curious variety of A. Filijc-fcemina with broad pinnae, 

 grows in the lake district, near Kendal ; but its habitat is kept strictly 

 secret, as I am informed. 



