BRITISH FERNS. 



9? 



botanists from the true ferns : from these they differ greatly 

 in the mode of fructification, and more nearly approach the 

 genera Equisetum and Ly- 

 copodium, which I have 

 altogether omitted. By our 

 modern continental authors, 

 Sadler, Presl, &c., these 

 three genera are not in- 

 cluded in their lists of ferns. 

 I have been induced to ap- 

 pend them to my little 

 monograph, not with the 

 view of expressing any 

 difference of opinion on the 

 subject, but because the 

 species are interesting and 

 certainly would be regarded 

 as ferns by that numerous 

 class of which I am myself 

 a member, and which is apt 

 to decide more by external 

 appearance than by less ob- 

 servable characters and mi- 

 nute structural differences. 



On the banks of Loch 

 Fyne, where its habit is rigid 

 and erect, as in the accom- 

 panying figure, I have seen 

 this noble fern reaching the 

 height of eight feet ; grow- 

 ing thus, it is beautiful, but I 

 think it is still more so if 

 pendant, a character it as- 

 sumes when springing from the water's edge. I noticed a beautiful 

 instance of this at Killarney, where it completely fringes the 

 river between the lakes, and certainly forms a most prominent 

 feature in that lovely but neglected portion of Killarney's far- 

 famed scenery. So altered is the usual character of this fern, 

 that its long fronds arch gracefully over, and dip their masses of 

 seed in the crystal water, while the saucy Coots, from beneath the 

 canopy it affords them, gaze fearlessly on the visitors who are 



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