THE FERN PARADISE. 



giving in some sort the idea of feet have sug- 

 gested the designation which is used to dis- 

 tinguish the group ; although the mark which 

 gives character to the group from a botanical 

 point of view is the absence of a protecting 

 membrane or cover to the little round clusters 

 of spore-cases at the backs of the fronds of 

 the species included in the genus Poly podium. 

 The Alpine Polypody, though bearing the family 

 name, is not a ' many-footed * Fern ; but it 

 nevertheless possesses the distinguishing mark of 

 the group. 



I. 



THE COMMON POLYPODY. 



Polypodium vulgare. 

 PLATE 2, FIG. 1. 



N"E of our most delightful Ferns is the 

 Common Polypody. It is positively 

 refreshing and invigorating to look at 

 it. We have good reason to think so, for as we 

 write we have a splendid specimen standing 



286 



