SHIELD FEENS. 



71 



The details of form are liable, however, to considerable 

 variation. The texture as well as habit of this fern is deli- 

 cate, and the veins very distinct. The clusters of spore- 

 cases are produced freely on the under surface of the leaf- 

 lets : their form has already been indicated. (PI. IX., fig. 1.) 



Abundant on hedge banks and moist woods ; in Ire- 

 land flourishing in boggy places. It is a very easy fern 

 to cultivate, but it does not grow well amid London 

 smoke, where the Male Fern flourishes freely. It will 

 succeed equally out of doors or in a pot in a green-house, 

 and should have plenty of room. 



Calder Campbell has written some lines on this fern, 

 which deserve remembrance: — 



** If you would see the lady fern 



111 all her graceful power. 

 Go look for her where woodlarks learn 



Love-soiip:s in a summer bower ; 

 Where not far oft', nor yet close by, 



A merry stream trips on, 

 Just near enow for an old man's eyo 



To watch the waters run. 

 And leap o'er many a cluster white 



Of crowfoots o'er them spread ; 

 While hart's tongues quiet with a green more bright 



Where the brackens make their bed. 

 Ferns all — and lovely all — yet each 



Yielding in charms to her 

 "Whose natural graces Art might teach 



High lessons to confer. 

 Go look for the pimpernel by day, 



For Silene's flowers by night. 

 For the first loves to bask in the sunny ray. 



And the last woos the moon's soft light ; 

 Bnt day or night the lady fern 



May catch and charm your eye, 

 When the sun to gold her emeralds turn, 



Or the moon lends her silver dye. 

 But seek her not in early May, 



For a Sibyl then she looks, 

 "With wrinkled fronds that seem to say, 



• Shut up are my wizard books ! ' 

 Then search for her in the summer woods, 



Where rills keep moist the ground, 

 "Where foxgloves from their spotted hoods 



Shake pilfering insects round ; 

 "Where up and clambering all about. 



The traveller's joy flings forth 

 Its snowy awns, that in and out 



Like feathers strew the earth. 

 I'air are the tufts of meadowsweet 



That haply blossom nigh. 

 Fair are the whorls of violet 



Prunella shows hard by j 



