FERNS. 43 



with her bright yellow-spotted leaves, from the roofs of 

 cottages, or around the low stone fence of the old wynch 

 well, answered a soft voice. Yet not there alone ; but 

 on stone walls and rocks, where we ofttimes succeed crus- 

 taceous lichens and small mosses. Wherever a space, 

 however scant, admits of taking root, be it on walls or 

 rocks, church towers or old bridges, there are we; diver- 

 sifying likewise the rugged stems of many an aged tree, or 

 the half-decayed stumps of hazels and whitethorn bushes, 

 with a graceful canopy of leaves. The grey owl often 

 brushes among us, when entering her hollow in the tree ; 

 and many a woodpecker owes to us a pleasant screen for 

 her young ones, from the hot beams of the summer sun. 

 Look up ; you may see us, waving as if in triumph, on the 

 fork of this tall beech; here we shall remain, unchanged 

 by the change of seasons. Leaves will grow russet, and 

 fall profusely to the earth ; and such birds as sing merrily 

 around us will depart for other climates ; the wintry blasts 

 will despoil their summer haunts, but our bright green 



