CHAPTER III 



THE BRACKEN FERN 



A FEW miles along our coast there is a headland 

 backed by woods which stop short before the coast- 

 line is reached. The vegetation that runs down to 

 the beach is largely composed of the plants usual on 

 sandy shores, but they are accompanied by a quantity 

 of Bracken Fern which extends down almost to the 

 high-tide mark. Here and there the Bracken may be 

 so thick as almost to exclude any other plants. It 

 spreads backwards also into the woods, but there 

 various other Ferns make their appearance, and 

 these with the Bracken constitute a chief factor in 

 the undergrowth below the canopy of trees. 



There are few plants that are so widely spread 

 over the earth's surface as the Bracken. It is the 

 most prevalent Fern here at home and is common 

 through Europe. It is seen on the high levels of 

 Ceylon, and has been noted as specially prevalent 

 at Singapore. It grows on the West Indian islands, 

 and though it is only sparingly present in South 



