FERNY RAMBLES IN SOUTH DEVON. 51 



A few yards from the entrance, a bend in the 

 lane hid its further course from view. But the 

 peep just where it disappeared was charming. 

 The overhanging trees, the lovely hedge-banks, 

 and the carpeting of grass and wild flowers, 

 all lent a peculiar and shadowy grace to the 

 vista between, forming what may not inappro- 

 priately be styled a sort of verdant twilight On 

 the fresh green hedge-banks near us were 

 numerous specimens of the Male Fern, the Harts- 

 tongue, the Soft Prickly Shield Fern, and small 

 plants of the Bracken, delightfully intermingled 

 with ivy, moss, and wild hyacinths. 



A little further on the road we found the tops 

 of the hedges on each side crowned with number- 

 less tall specimens of the Bracken, and presenting 

 a peculiarly graceful and beautiful appearance. 

 At a short distance from this place, the road 

 suddenly descends as it bends sharply round to 

 the right. At this point a beautiful view of the 

 valley lying below on the left, with its wooded 

 bottoms, its orchards, and its meadows is revealed ; 

 here and there houses picturesquely dotted about, 



