GROUP V 



FERTILE AND STERILE FRONDS LEAF-LIKE AND SIMILAR; 

 SPORANGIA IN LINEAR OR OBLONG FRUIT - DOTS 



to be met with on rare occasions, in a spirit of 

 breathless exultation, I almost begrudge finding it 

 now on shaded cliffs close to the highway. 



Certainly it seems lovelier when it holds itself 

 somewhat aloof from the beaten paths. One of its 

 favorite haunts is a 

 mossy cliff which forms 



part of a ra- 

 vine of sin- 

 g u 1 a r 

 beauty. 

 Along 

 the base 

 of this . 

 cliff foams 

 a rushing 

 stream on its way 

 to the valley. Over- 

 head stretch branches of hem- 

 lock, Cedar, and baSSWOOd. Maidenhair Spleenwort 



On the broader shelves the mountain maple, the 

 silver birch, and the hobble-bush secure a pre- 

 carious foothold. Below rare sunbeams bring out 

 rich patches of color on the smooth, muscular 

 trunks of the beeches. Close to the water, per- 

 haps, wheel a pair of spotted sand-pipers, now 



137 



