28 WAYSIDE AND WOODLAND FERNS. 



purposes. In the Highlands it is found at an elevation of 

 2000 feet, and at all altitudes between this and the sea-shore in 

 other places. It is almost equally ubiquitous outside these 

 islands, for it is found all over Europe, even in the Arctic 

 portions, in all the temperate regions of the earth, and also in 

 some of the Tropics. It is the sole British representative of a 

 large genus, whose name Pteris^ from the Latin pteron^ a wing, 

 was suggested by the wing-like form of the expansive fronds. 

 The specific name, aquilina, as already hinted at, has reference 

 to the spread-eagle semblance of the woody tissue. The 

 popular name Bracken is sometimes spelled Braken, Brakens, 

 Brecken, Breckon, or shortened into Brake or Brakes, which 

 appears to be the original form applied generally to the larger 

 species of ferns. Burns, when contrasting his own beloved 

 Scotland with the vaunted glories of foreign countries, says : 



" Far dearer to me yon lone glen o' green Breckan, 

 Wi' the burn stealing under the lang yellow broom." 



Other folk-names are Adder-spit (Sussex), Lady Bracken 

 (Dumfries and Roxburgh), Brake-fern (general), Ern-fern 

 = Eagle-fern (Scotland), Farn (Gloucestershire), Oak-fern 

 (Norfolk), and Common Fern. 



A very beautiful longitudinally striped caterpillar the larva 

 of the Broom-moth (Hadena pisi} may often be found feeding 

 upon the Bracken. 



Parsley Fern (Cryptogram** crispo). 



The Parsley Fern, or Rock Brake, is one of the most delicate 

 and graceful species. It is one of those which exhibit a strong 

 contrast between the barren and fertile fronds to the advantage 

 of both. The comparison with Parsley, suggested by the popular 

 name, is not inapt, for there is considerable general resemblance 

 of form ; yet we are of opinion that this, being the more beautiful 



