FERNS. 33 



The spore-covers were fastened at one side, and the other 

 edge was fringed : the masses were nearly circular, and 

 the covering circular or kidney-shaped. The difference 

 between this Fern and the Lastreas consists chiefly in 

 their spore-covers being attached at the indentation, and 

 those of the Lady-Fern (Athyrium Filix-fcemina, Plate 

 III., Jig. 8), at the side. 



The plant and its position reminded me forcibly of Sir 

 Walter Scott's description : 



" Where the copsewood is the greenest, 

 "Where the fountain glistens sheenest, 

 Where the morning dew lies longest, 

 There the Lady-Fern grows strongest." 



As we proceeded along the wood, we found the Lady- 

 Fern again and again. In a very boggy place she was 

 growing in a narrower form, and the pinnae farther from 

 one another. I afterwards found that this was the 

 variety named Rhceticum. It has sometimes a red stem. 

 and a Fern-fancier of my acquaintance always calls it his 

 " red-haired lady." There is a variety with the pinnules 

 broader, which is called latifolium. It has only been 

 found in the lake district. One of smaller stature and 

 very delicate foliage, frequenting some parts of the western 

 coast of Scotland, is called marinum. The Lady-Fern 

 is as abundant in Ireland as the common Brake is here, 

 and is used, like it, for packing fruit and fish. 



Near an ascending path, which we were compelled to 

 take, failing the possibility of progress close beside the 

 stream, grew the well known Hart's-tonoue. Clusters of 

 the Prickly Shield-Ferns were growing by its side, and 

 the contrast of form and tint between the two plants was 



c 



