172 



while there are numerous Temperance and other Hotels, 

 on more economical lines, for the selection of members 

 who may prefer them or who cannot be provided for at 

 the ** Golden Lion," where sleeping accommodation is 

 restricted to some eight or ten. 



One advantage presented by this town is the existence 

 of a narrow gauge railway crossing the country to 

 Linton, and thus tapping at intervals some of the ferniest 

 districts which it is possible to find in Great Britain, 

 innumerable typical Devonian lanes deeply sunk in 

 high banks, teeming with Ferns, permeating the country 

 in all directions ; while in such places as Woody Bay 

 and Hedensmouth, on the coast, the wealth of Ferns in 

 the sloping woods must be seen to be believed. At this 

 early period of the season Fern hunting naturally was 

 severely handicapped, the deciduous species being only 

 represented by dead and shrivelled fronds, while even 

 the evergreens were more or less weather-beaten, browned 

 and damaged. From previous experience, however, 

 we know that the following species abound, viz. Lastrea 

 filix mas., pseudo mas., dilatata, cBmula, montana, Polystichum 

 angidave and aciileaUim^ Athyrium filix foemina, Asplenhim 

 tnchomanes, Adiantum nigvum, ceterach^ and near, and on 

 the coast, mavimim, lanceolatuiii, P. viilgave, Scolopendrium 

 vulgave (everywhere), Blechnum spicant, and of course 

 P. aqtiilina. P. angulave, and Scolopendviuui prevail in the 

 hedgebanks, and the latter in some parts fills the inter- 

 stices of the stone dykes by the hundred. In the course 

 of our rambles we took careful account of the richest 

 areas, and thus shall be able to afford reliable guidance 

 to the hunting parties, which we anticipate will be 

 organized as usual before and after the meeting, of which 

 a due reminder will be given in July. 



Meanwhile we would ask our members to take special 

 note of this preliminary advice as we are naturally 

 extremely anxious that with our largely increased member- 

 ship a goodly number should seize the occasion not 



