1 6 FERNS. 



midveiu and the margin ; and the lens showed that the 

 covers on these masses were kidney-shaped. This was 

 the common Male-Fern, the most frequent member of the 

 Lastrea group, characterized by the kidney-shaped cover 

 or indusium (L. filixmas, Plate II, fig. 1). These 

 Lastreas compose the third family of the second group of 

 Ferns — the aspidiacew, the Polystichum and Woodsia 

 families preceding it in the group. The English name of 

 the Lastreas is Shield-Fern. 



The Spreading Shield-Fern (L. dilatata, Plate II, fig. 

 2), was there also. Growing to the height of two feet, 

 the lower pinnae becoming so elongated as to give a 

 triangular form to the frond, the pinnules branched again, 

 and beset with independent leaflets, so as to be tripinnate, 

 and each little leaflet curled in at the edges, the Fern has 

 an appearance at once stately and graceful. Surely this 

 species must have suggested to the poet the expression, 

 " The palmy Fern's green elegance." The foliage is often 

 beautifully shaded, becoming very pale towards the ends 

 of the little branchlets. I remember being greatly struck 

 with its loveliness on seeing it bending over the margin 

 of Sheerwater Lake, in Wiltshire, where its verdant tint 

 and feathery form were mirrored in the limpid waters. 

 Nor did it show to less advantage beside the vellow 

 Broom on the wooded hills of Herefordshire. Ever as I 

 looked upon them I exclaimed — 



" Cool are the Fern-tufts, green their plumes, 

 Golden the blossoms on the Brooms." 



Indeed, they make the hillside itself golden, as if a cloud 

 of gilded butterflies had settled on the brushwood. Here, 



