144 



In further illustration of these ideas a sketch is appended 

 (in the memorandum which accompanies the 5th series) to 

 shew — if not the relationship — the degrees of resemblance 

 between the divided forms. 



The expression ''gentle blood " has been used here more 

 than once as expressive of that look of quality which 

 ^eems to distinguish the finely divided forms of angulare 

 from all others. For whoever has once seen a real 

 acutilobe or divisilobe — well grown — half or two-thirds 

 unfolded, with its wealth of feathery foliage spreading 

 from a centre — so finely cut, and yet so evenly crowded 

 together — the dark green of the unfolded part contrasting 

 charmingly with the clear white of the curled up heads of 

 the fronds that turn gracefully back, crozierlike — with the 

 tips of the pinnae still folded up, and standing out like rows 

 of little frosted-silver balls along the outer edge of the 

 frond — and the rich thick fox-coloured scales that cover 

 the stem, running right up the centre of the frond like a 

 bit of sable fur, — and the fine hair-like spines standing out 

 from it everywhere, for the dew to rest on or the sun to 

 shine upon ; — whoever has once seen this mixture of form, 

 detail, and colour, can hardly help regarding it ever after- 

 wards as distinct from other Polystichums. And it isn't 

 cultivation only that does it, for often has the eye of the 

 fortunate angulare hunter been struck by a similar 

 contrast — as for instance, when Mr. WoUaston came face 

 to face with No. 61, or when Air. Wills (with that 

 magical hooked stick of his) uncovered his Sidbury 

 divisilobe (No. 65a) from the common leaves that hid it ; — 

 there they stood out, distinct among their fellows, just 

 like bits of china among earthenware — clearly enough 

 Nature's gentlemen — and we may be sure that it takes at 

 least three generations to make them such, for it can hardly 

 be credited that such forms start from the normal type. 



Mr. Edwin Fox has drawn attention to the strong cedar 

 smell which is one of the pecularities of the acutilobes and 

 divisilobes puv sang. 



