56 



have happened without the aforesaid paper and string, 

 etc. ? — Why, another journey of twelve miles with the neces- 

 sary paraphernalia to secure the prize ! 



In hunting Ferns in the winter time, then, it is always 

 desirable to be well equipped, otherwise one cannot court 

 the bye-roads, the margins of woods, or the deep hollows 

 where the quarry is likely to abound. 



In this district of the Isle of Purbeck, the prevailing 

 evergreen species are the Hartstongue, the two Polystichums, 

 the common Polypody, the Male Ferns — Lastvea Filix-mas 

 plentifully and L. pseudo-mas sparingly — the broad and 

 narrow Bucklers, the Hard Fern, and the Aspleniums, such 

 as A. adiantum nigvtim^ A. trichomaneSj A. viariimm, and, 

 of course, A. vuta iimvavia, with an occasional colony of 

 Cetevach — surely a respectable number enough to overhaul 

 and criticise. 



But the zest of a ramble of this description lies — apart from 

 the invigorating airs of a winter's day and the rural aspect 

 of Nature at this season — in the fact that one's persistency 

 in the chase may at any moment be rewarded. 



Whether this happy event should be brought to a climax, 

 or otherwise, depends in some measure on the district 

 covered, and the liability to variation for which the hunter 

 is out. 



Anyhow, even if nothing occurs to "break the record," 

 the outing need not be altogether futile. Something is sure 

 to turn up to rivet the attention, some lesson is bound to 

 accrue, for one cannot focus all these things by observation 

 without a pteridological consequence. 



C. B. Green. 



P.S. — In the above INIr. Green added some verses with 

 a moral, which we have ventured, with his permission, to 

 recast a little and reproduce as follows. 



The Editor. 



