94 THE WOODSIAS. 
petitors, for it elects to dwell in places where most others | 
cannot exist. It delights in the very crests of exposed 
precipices, often growing in full sun. In the region 
about Little Falls, N. J., it isan abundant and character- 
istic species, growing in dense tufts on the rugged trap- 
rock hillocks. A climb up the loose and crumbling 
ledges is not without its adventures, but one feels fully 
repaid for the scramble by the first 
sight of the woolly little plants at 
the top. 
It isa decidedly social little species 
‘and is usually found with rootstocks 
and fronds so matted and _ inter- 
twined that it is difficult to decide 
how much belongs to any one plant. 
The rootstocks nestle in the shallow 
crevices and produce fronds all sum- 
mer. The young crosiers are cov- 
ered with a dense coat of silvery- 
white, hairlike scales and present an 
attractive picture when unfolding 
amidst the browns and dark greens 
of mature fronds. Doubtless this 
hairy covering is of service in pre- 
venting too great evaporation dur- 
ing the heat of summer. On old 
fronds the upper surface is usually 
little if at all hairy, but underneath, 
they are so woolly that the fruit-dots 
RUSTY WOODSIA. . 
(bode Vio ensiy. are almost concealed. At maturity 
this wool turns to a rusty brown and gives occasion for 
the common name. 
