THAT'S IT; 



236 



lish word ivy, is from the Celtic 

 iw, green. The leaves of the ivy, 

 1, have fine angular lobes, and 

 are smooth and glossy. The 

 climbing stems throw out roots 

 9 



625. 



from their sides, and catch hold 

 of anything that may be near 

 them. When the roots cannot 

 penetrate the substance which 

 they touch, they dilate, and 

 attach themselves to it, by close 



pressure on the rough particles 

 of its surface. The btrries, 2, 

 afford a rich repast to numerous 

 birds, and its flowers to myriads 

 of insects. Yet it is remarkable 

 that its leaves remain untouched. 



Ivy gives great richness to an old trunk, both 

 by its stem, which often winds round it in 

 thick, waving, irregular volumes ; and by its 

 leaf, which either decks the furrowed bark, or 

 creeps among the branches, or hangs carelessly 

 from them. In all these circumstances it unites 

 with the mosses, and other furniture of the tree, 

 in adorning and enriching it. About the com- 

 mencement of spring, when the foliage of the 

 oak is just beginning to expand, its varied tints 

 are often delightfully coiftrasted with the deep 

 green of an ivy bush, which has overspread the 

 body and larger limbs of the tree ; and the 

 contrast is still more beautiful when the leaves 

 are covered, as we sometimes see them, with 

 tufts of brimstone coloured moss. 



Among the undergrowth of 

 woods, the very interesting tribes 

 of ferns, 10, are conspicuous. 

 They are herbaceous plants, some 

 of which assume the dimensions 

 of trees in tropical regions, where 

 they present the appearance of 

 diminutive palms, 562. Their 

 leaves or fronds are feather-like, 

 and branch outward from the 

 stem, 1 ; or are lobed, and spring 

 from the root, 2 ; pinnated, 3 ; 

 simple and lanceolate, 4 ; and 

 present other endless varieties, 

 as 5, 6, and 11. 



626. 



