194 WAYSIDE WEEDS. 



souttern climes/ the elegant drooping clumps of 

 bright green lady-fern, and the miniature forests of 

 the bracken, that offer a leafy cm:tain and good 

 concealment to the crouching deer. 



With the characteris^cs pointed out, and with 

 the idea that you either have some notion of a fern, 

 or can get some one to show you, we start you in 

 search of your bundle^ and bid'you gather every- 

 thing you meet with, by hedgeside, rock crevice, 

 or wall, which you think resembles what you are 

 seeking for. Probably you will get the very common 

 male fern, Lastrea filix mas, its handsome fronds 

 often exceeding three feet in length, and, as already 

 observed, when growing undisturbed, taking the 

 form of a circle or corona springing from the 

 common root-stock. You may get the lady-fern, 

 Athyrmm jllisc foaymna^ fory loving shade and 

 moisture, in some localities it is very abundant, 

 growing along with the male fern, but distinguish- 

 able from it, with a very little attention, by its much 

 more delicate and elegant, almost feathery, forma- 

 tion, with tendency to droop, and by the sori being 

 of a more elongated kidney-shape. There are other 

 minute differences, but of these it would be useless 

 to speak here. In the same shade and clump as the 

 ladyfern loves, if there is rock or stone wall, there 

 wiU probably be for you a specimen of the hart's- 

 tongue (Fig*. 113), only here there is no finely-cut 

 leaf> but a long^ plain, and yet elegant withaly 



