THE FERNY MOORLANDS. 63 



in shadowy outlines. Now the eye rests on the 

 graceful scenery which lies immediately contiguous 

 to the path: huge boulders scattered about on 

 each side, clothed with moss and ferns ; rugged 

 hedge-banks formed of slate rock and red sand- 

 stone teeming with fern-life ; slopes of furze and 

 heather intermingled with wild flowers. Now the 

 path descends the hill-side and traverses and lights 

 on a glade strewn with boulders of all sizes and 

 shapes, forming a natural rockery, and giving 

 congenial shelter to the roots of the Bracken, 

 whose tall fronds are spread out with a wild 

 grace which no word-painting can adequately 

 represent. 



Along the route which we have indicated, the 

 fern-hunter may find, in charming variety, the 

 Common Polypody, the Soft Prickly Shield Fern, 

 the Male Fern, the Broad Buckler Fern, the Lady 

 Fern, the Black Maidenhair Spleenwort, the Harts- 

 tongue, and the Hard Fern. 



Few sights can be more grand and imposing 

 than the view which is to be obtained shortly 

 after commencing the descent a mile in length 



