52 WHERE TO FIND FERNS. 



and fields ; islets in midstream. The Author has occa- 

 sionally found small specimens growing on the damp 

 sides of walls, but such a position is only possible for 

 seedling or very diminutive specimens. The Bracken 

 frequently covers large spaces of ground, which it ex- 

 clusively occupies. 



WHERE FOUND. The great abundance of the Bracken 

 renders it unnecessary to give a detailed list of the 

 localities in which it grows. The published records of 

 its distribution, given in the second and revised edi- 

 tion (1883) of Mr. Watson's "Topographical Botany," 

 include every county in England, Wales, and Scotland, 

 except . Wigtonshire and West Ross ; but it is possibly 

 to be found also in these districts. It grows at various 

 heights, extending to two thousand feet above the sea- 

 level. 



VI. THE HARTSTONGUE. 



Scolopendrium vulgare. 

 (Plate VI, Fig. i, page 59.) 



LENGTH OF FROND. Extremely variable : a couple of 

 inches when growing on hard, dry walls, to three feet 

 when in very moist and congenial positions. Ordinary 

 lengths within these extremes. 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION. Roots numerous, fibrous 

 and somewhat wiry. Rootstock, a tufted cormus, the 

 crown of which is raised slightly above the ground. 

 Fronds numerous, evergreen, produced in tufts, tongue- 

 shaped, entire, leathery and glossy, each stipes about 

 one-third the length of the leafy part usually covered 

 by rust-coloured scales, which often extend along the 



