268 LETTER XXlil. 



the most exquisite regularity. But the Tree Ferns of the 

 Tropics are said to be most superb objects, combining 

 the grace and agreeable colour of their European 

 kindred with the majestic aspect of the Palms. 



It is usual to call the leaves of Ferns by the name 

 of FROND, as if their leaves were not analogous to 

 those of other plants. But I see no use in continuing 

 this old fashioned word, which was coined at a time 

 when the leaf of a Fern was thought to be a sort of 

 compound between a branch and a leaf. It is much 

 better, on every account, to call it by the name that 

 the same part bears in other plants. 



For the purpose of studying the organization of 

 Ferns, I recommend you to take a leaf of Harfs-tongue 

 (Scolopendrium officinarum, Plate XXIII. 1.), a 

 plant which is common on most damp and shaded 

 banks, and within old open wells, the mouths of which 

 are almost choaked up by it. All that you will 

 find of the plant, is a brown scaly rootstock, from 

 which grow a number of handsome lance-shaped 

 leaves, of a deep green colour, placed upon a shining 

 ebony-black stalk. If the leaves are newly formed, 

 you will, by holding them up against the light, readily 

 see their veins, which are dissimilar to those of all 

 other plants. They neither resemble Monocotyledons, 

 nor Dicotyledons ; are neither netted nor parallel ; 

 but have a simply forked structure. You will re- 

 mark, that, although now and then, one vein may 

 be found running straight from the midrib nearly up 

 to the margin, without dividing, yet, that the prin- 

 cipal part fork very soon after the vein has left the 



