THE MAIDENHAIR. 157 



fronds. The stems of the fronds are more like 

 thick hairs than the stems of a plant The general 

 outline of the frond is lance-like. Its length varies 

 from six inches to a foot ; but sometimes, under 

 conditions peculiarly favourable to its growth, it 

 reaches a length of more than a foot. The stem is 

 about half the length of the entire frond. Then 

 commences the rachis, on each side of which, in 

 irregular alternation, are thrown out the branches 

 if they may be so called of the frond. These 

 branches, black and shining, are like lesser hairs ; 

 and to them are fastened on each side, in irregular 

 order, the delicate fan-shaped leaflets of an ex- 

 quisite shade of green. The leaflets are fastened 

 to the branches of the frond by short, hair-like 

 filaments, black and shining, somewhat like the 

 stem and branches, but thinner and more delicate. 

 The spores of the Maidenhair are borne at the 

 back and on the edge of the leaflets, the margin 

 of which is folded back to cover them, thus losing 

 its green colour and becoming blanched. 



It is the fortune of few fern-lovers to see the 

 Maidenhair growing in its wild habitats. But as 



