THE FERNY MOORLANDS. 71 



tion of small trees, and underneath these there is 

 a tiny forest of ferns. The Brakes in glorious 

 luxuriance clothe the ground; splendid forms of 

 the Male Fern also abound in this wood. The 

 dark stream which flows by the wood is fringed 

 with the most beautiful specimens of the Lady 

 Fern, of all sizes. There also is to be obtained 

 the lemon-scented Mountain Buckler Fern. We 

 saw a number of these lovely plants. It was 

 no wonder that the ferns in this delightful 

 grove were so luxuriant, for the soil consisted of 

 nothing but sponyg, sandy leaf-mould. The soft 

 and exquisitely-beautiful scenery in, around, and 

 above this charming wood it is almost impossible 

 to describe. The ground covered with waving 

 fern-fronds ; on one side the foaming waterfall, 

 on the other the river with its fern-fringed banks ; 

 above, the interlaced tops of the trees in the 

 grove, through which might be seen the grand 

 wood-covered hills which shut in the prospect 

 all round, and, towering up against the blue sky, 

 seemed almost to fold over like a delightful 

 canopy, with a grandeur that cannot be described. 



