THE SPLEENWORTS. 279 



what would correspond to the teeth of the saw 

 are narrow, blunt-pointed lobes. The frond is 

 widest at its centre, and tapers at each end. It 

 has a thick midrib or rachis. What constitutes 

 the peculiar elegance of the Scale Fern is the 

 contrast presented by the two sides of the frond. 

 Its upper surface is of a rich bluish-green, soft 

 and velvety to the touch ; its under surface is 

 completely hidden by a thick drapery of densely- 

 packed reddish-brown scales. These beautiful 

 scales extend to every part of the back of the 

 frond, covering up midrib and pinnule, and 

 affording a snug hiding place for the spores. 

 The fronds grow in tufts from a central crown, 

 and are always most luxuriant when found at 

 the tops of walls, under the shelter of over- 

 hanging trees. 



Well do we remember the pleasure we ex- 

 perienced on rinding, after a long search, our 

 first specimens of the Scale Fern. We had 

 previously read the description of this beautiful 

 species, and had seen the coloured representa- 

 tions of it ; but had never happened to set eyes 



