FERN ALLIES. 53 



(L. alpinuin, fig. 6) we have to thank the Swaledale 

 moors. It was the twelfth of August, a Sicilian vespers 

 for the grouse, and we had arranged to meet the sports- 

 men at noon, and carry them the refreshment which they 

 so sorely needed. Of course it rained — when does it not 

 rain among the hills on the day when out-door entertain- 

 ments are arranged ? Of course it rained, and of course 

 we defied the rain. Such a collection of cloaks and hats, 

 and such contrivances for keeping the paniers dry, which 

 the patient hill pony was to carry, along with the worst 

 walker of our party ! The strong British resolution of 

 each was bent on keeping our tryst ; but our energies 

 were sufficiently tasked in making our way, up-hill and 

 down-dale, amid heath and moss, or over rough stones, 

 to preclude the possibility of conversation. On we 

 plodded in single file, no cloaked and hooded figure at- 

 tempting to entertain or be entertained. Then it was 

 that the quadrangular stems of the Savin-leaved Club- 

 moss arrested my attention, but I gathered its tufts of 

 branches, admired its plentiful cones, and proceeded on 

 my way, too wet and weary to proclaim my good luck. 

 But when we reached the rough shed on the moor, and a 

 peat fire had dried us without quite choking us with 

 smoke, the matter assumed a more cheerful aspect. 

 Then I produced my Club-moss, sharing it among the 

 plant lovers, and its four rows of blunt leaves, its pale 

 glaucous tint, and the abundance of its fruit, received a 

 full measure of interest and approval. Mr. Sowerby 

 quotes an interesting passage from Sir W. J. Hooker s 

 " Tour in Iceland," relative to this plant. " A vast heap 

 of Lycopodium Alpinum lying before the priests' house 



