THE FERNY MOORLANDS. 



nothing in grandeur, as the dimness of distance 

 causes it to melt away in shadowy outlines. Now 

 the eye rests on the graceful scenery which lies 

 immediately contiguous to the path huge boul- 

 ders scattered about on each side, clothed with 

 moss and Ferns ; rugged hedge-banks formed of 

 slate rock and red sandstone teeming with Fern- 

 life; slopes of furze and heather intermingled 

 with wild flowers. Now the path descends the 

 hill-side and lights on and traverses a glade 

 strewn with boulders of all sizes and shapes, 

 forming a natural rockery, and giving congenial 

 shelter to the roots of Bracken, whose tall fronds 

 are spread out with a wild grace which 110 word- 

 painting can adequately represent. 



Along the route which we have indicated the 

 Fern hunter may find, in charming variety, the 

 Common Polypody, the Soft Prickly Shield Fern, 

 the Male Fern, the Broad Buckler Fern, the Lady 

 Fern, the Black Maidenhair Spleen wort, the 

 Hartstongue, and the Hard Fern. 



Few scenes can be more magnificent than the 

 view which is to be obtained shortly after com- 

 mencing the descent a mile in length which 



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