1 8 FERNS. 



leaflets. Like the Male-Fen), it is bipinnate. A sweet 

 odour emanated from the plant, arising from numerous 

 microscopic golden glands which covered the under sur- 

 face. All these particulars proved it to be the Heath 

 Shield-Fern (L. oreopteris, Plate II., Jig. 4). It formed 

 the leading feature in a miniature landscape of exquisite 

 beauty ; for, as I knelt to gather some of the fragrant 

 fronds, I espied the coral Lichen clustering beneath its 

 shade, like a gay parterre shadowed by delicate lime trees. 

 The white fronds of the Lichen, with its red tips, and, 

 beyond, the horn-like branches of the Reindeer Moss, 

 contrasting with a soft purple cushion of wild thyme — 

 surely some such scene as this must have given rise to 

 Mrs. Heman's description : — 



" Beneath these plumes 

 Of waving Fern look where the Cup Moss holds 

 In its pure crimson goblet, fresh and bright, 

 The starry dews of morning." 



It was a lovely picture, and I felt to grasp it more rest- 

 fully, and to love it better, than the wide prospect of 

 wood and hill and valley beyond. Truly it is a weakness 

 of our mortal sense to imagine a thing trifling because it 

 is small. The vast peat mosses, which furnish fuel for 

 thousands, are formed of an insignificant plant ; while 

 mountain ranges are composed of skeletons of animals 

 imperceptible to the naked eye. To learn the value of 

 trifles we should study nature. In its lowest forms we 

 see the vast importance of mere atoms ; detecting in 

 microscopic Fungi causes of vast blessing, and of un- 

 utterable dread. A tiny plant or insect testifies to the 



