THE POLYPODIES. 



beside us on our table, in a shallow seed-pan ; and 

 it does us good to pause now and then, and look 

 at its glorious wealth of magnificent fronds. 

 This same specimen was some few weeks since 

 growing on the moss- covered wall which skirted a 

 Devonshire brook. When we got it, in its wild 

 state, its fronds had attained what is generally re- 

 garded as their maximum length, namely, eighteen 

 inches. And what exquisite roots ! A perfect net- 

 work of fibres, which, growing in the perpetual 

 moisture engendered under the mossy covering of 

 the wall, had crept along until they formed a 

 sheet nearly a foot square. Then, the atmosphere 

 of the brook had wonderfully helped the vigorous 

 growth of the plant. We took our specimens 

 from their damp and mossy habitat carefully 

 preserved them during our stay in Devonshire^ 

 by keeping them constantly moist and then 

 brought them to our London home. But we did 

 not forget to supply as nearly as possible the 

 conditions under which we found them growing 

 in their natural home. Shade, moisture, and leaf- 

 mould, are the three conditions of success for 

 the Common Polypody. It requires no great 



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