FERNS AS BEDDING. 149 



lands, or whether there is really some foundation in fact for the belief 

 that a bedding of green ferns causes the udders of cows to swell and 

 fester as is alleged, we are not at this moment prepared to say ; per- 

 haps some of our readers may be able to throw light on the subject. 

 It is just possible that green-cut ferns, when pressed by the recumbent 

 animal, may exude an acrid juice that, coming in contact with the 

 tender udder, may be absorbed with the effects alleged. Meantime 

 we doubt it. One thing we know is this, that cattle are fond of 

 lying down among growing ferns in their every stage, and that 

 both roe and red deer frequently make their lair among growing 

 ferns at this season. Do you remember, by the way, Scott's 

 magnificent description in Marmion of a fern-couched deer 

 roused from his midnight lair by the awful tolling of the passing 

 bell over the living entombment of poor Constance in the monastery 

 of Lindisfarne % — 



' ' Slow o'er the midnight wave it swung, 

 Northumbrian rocks in answer rung ; 

 To Warkworth cell the echoes roll'd, 

 His beads the wakeful hermit told. 

 The Bamborough peasant raised his head, 

 But slept ere half a prayer he said ; 

 So far was heard the mighty knell, 

 The stag sprung up on Cheviot Fell, 

 Spread his broad nostril to the wind. 

 Listed before, aside, behind, 

 Then couch'd him down beside the hind, 

 And quaked among the mountain fern. 

 To hear that sound so dvU and stem." 



Than the whole of the trial and doom of poor Constance, who 

 " loved not wisely but too well," in the second canto of Marmion, 

 even Scott never wrote anything more solemn or terrible. 



