296 THE ROYAL FERN. CHAP. xvm. 



six British species growing in the county, and probably 

 I may also find the sixth. The club-moss which strikes 

 you, is alpinum, which is found in great abundance on 

 the steep sides of Morven. Selago, or fir club-moss, 

 seems an exception. Selagirurides too, bears spores 

 everywhere. ... I am scarcely master of a single 

 spare moment." 



" I am going off to the moors," he again says, " for a 

 back-burden of moss. If you were here you would go 

 too, but you would have to rise at five. If you will 

 visit quarries, my man, it will not do to be snoozing in 

 your bed until eight o'clock. I was up at one this morn- 

 ing, hence this epistle." This, however, was a piece of 

 banter ; for Dick knew that Peach was an early riser, 

 and did much of his geological work early in the morn- 

 ing, or late at night. " His letters," said Peach, " even 

 if bantering me, always brought sunshine." 



Dick also continued his search for ferns. He often 

 wandered along the foot of Dunnet Head, when the tide 

 was out, and climbed up the rocks into some shady 

 nook where the ferns grew. They did not grow on the 

 eastern side of the cliffs, but on the west, where the 

 Gulf Stream washes along the headland. Sometimes he 

 descended the western cliffs, where a fall of the red 

 sandstone had taken place, and there he found the ferns 

 of which he had come in search. It was a glorious day 

 for him when he found the Eoyal Fern Osmunda regalia 

 growing there in its native beauty. " I can yet 

 recollect," he says, " how happy I was when I found the 

 first Osmunda. I was wearied, and sore, and sick, and 



