THE FERNY MOORLANDS. 59 



the deep, dark, shining, green fronds of the Harts- 

 tongue. Or we may espy specimens of the Black 

 Maidenhair Spleenwort, of the Wall-rue, or of the 

 Common Maidenhair Spleenwort. Now the light 

 increases; but fields and hedge-rows are still shut 

 out by the steep sandstone and slate rock, from 

 which, however, high up above our heads cluster 

 and peep out numerous ferny tufts, looking freshest 

 and greenest where, from the high level above, 

 some trickling moisture falls over the steep rock. 

 Then, for a moment, the high land appears to 

 recede as the train rushes through some gorge, 

 leaving hill and cutting behind, and revealing to 

 the eyes of the delighted passenger the wood- 

 covered and ferny valley, or the fern-covered 

 upland slope. A railway is seldom suggestive of 

 fern-land. The hourly rush of traffic, for pas- 

 sengers and "goods," reminds one unpleasantly 

 of the town, and of its hurry and bustle. The 

 railway to the lover of nature mars the free 

 wild aspect of the woods and fields. But nature 

 conquers everywhere in Devonshire. Even its 

 iron-lined roads are subdued by the soften- 



