THE SHIELD FERNS. 205 



rigid in texture. When the Hard Prickly Shield 

 Fern has reached maturity in September, the 

 backs of all its leaflets, in the upper portion of 

 the frond, are densely covered with rich-brown 

 clusters of seed-cases. 



The Hard Prickly Shield Fern is very widely 

 and plentifully distributed throughout the United 

 Kingdom, growing chiefly in shady hedge-banks 

 and on tree-covered hilly slopes. Few of our ferns 

 are so robust as this species, and few can bear 

 the sunlight better. But, although hardy in the 

 extreme, it prefers like all ferns shade and 

 moisture, and grows more luxuriantly under 

 conditions where these are secured than when 

 exposed to the sunlight or subjected to the open 

 force of the winds. We found a grand specimen 

 of Polystichum aculeatum on a steep slope in 

 the woods surrounding Berry Pomeroy Castle, in 

 South Devon. It was nearly four feet long ; and 

 its rigid, robust, prickly-looking, dark shining- 

 green fronds made it a striking object. 



In the garden, on the rockery, or in the house, 

 this fern will grow magnificently. It will thrive 



