THE ROYAL FERN. 153 



by the taller forms and the darker shade of the 

 trees on its banks ! A few moments more, and 

 we have, in following our narrow path, lost the 

 outside view. We are now, in fact, away from 

 the sunlight, and under the shade of the tall 

 and graceful trees of a coppice. Oh, delightful 

 coolness ! Beneath our feet, soft velvety turf of 

 glorious golden green ! Above, the tall tree-tops 

 screening the sunlight and checkering the blue 

 sky! 



But the Osmunda the stately, the beautiful 

 Osmunda ! We are close upon its habitat. The 

 fern abounds in lovely Devonshire, and fringes 

 the banks of the Dart, and we are now within 

 sight of that river. We turn from the cop- 

 pice along a narrow winding path, and as we 

 proceed onward the sound of rushing water 

 strikes on our ear ! Now screening branches 

 deepen the shadows on our way, until presently 

 the light comes in upon our path through the 

 tangled shrubs on our right. Putting these on 

 one side and brushing into their midst, we soon 

 find ourselves on the river's brink. Then we 



