THE WARMER TEMPERATE ZONE. 129 



sting of these nettles, that it is related of a horse which 

 happened to be stung by one of them, that he became in- 

 furiated by the pain, and in a short time died in convulsions. 

 But one of the most beautiful and striking features of 

 the Tasmanian forest are the Tree-Perns. They are often 

 of a gigantic size, and quite Palm-like in their appearance : 

 " Some tall and erect as the columns of a temple ; others 

 bending into an arch ; their wide-spreading, feathery crowns 

 forming half-transparent green canopies, so close together 

 that only a span of blue sky can peep down between." The 

 stems vary in height from six to twenty or thirty feet, and 

 in diameter from eight inches to two or three feet. ' ' So 

 luxuriant is the vegetation, that the stems of these ferns 

 are often overgrown with other little ferns, growing on 

 them parasitically : one particular kind wreaths itself round 

 and round their mossy columns, like living garlands ; and 

 the wondrously elegant, stately crown-canopy of feathers 

 (from twelve to eighteen feet long), springing from the 

 summit, bends over in a graceful curve all around, as evenly 

 and regularly as the ribs of a parasol. Par above the Pern- 

 trees and their beautiful parasites huge forest-trees soar up 

 aloft, throwing their giant arms about in a gale that is 

 blowing above, whilst scarcely a breath lifts the lightest 



