84 



A FEEN" BOOK 'EOU EYERYBODI. 



pointed than in the common form. The outline of the 

 frond is more decidedly triangular, from the greater length 

 of the lower pair of branches. 



The blunt-leaved variety ohtusim proceeds to the other 

 extreme, and has the leaflets large, broad, and undivided, 

 with a notched edge. 



Those who may possess a partiality for variegated foliage 

 will find in the white streaked fronds of the form called 

 variegatitm something to suit their taste. 



Mr. D. Stock has communicated to us an abnormal form, 

 collected by him at Bungay, in which the leaf-stalk is 

 divided about one-third of its length from the root-stalk, 

 each branch bearing a frond similar in size and shape to 

 the ordinary form. 



Although this fern was formerly employed as a pectoral, 

 it has now no reputation as a curative agent. 



THE RABTS TONGVES, 



Clusters oi spore-cases in pairs, with a covering opening down the centre 

 between them. 



The only representative which we possess of this genus 

 of ferns, is so common and so generally known, that very 

 little description is necessary. The scientific name of 

 Scolopendrium alludes to the centipede/* and is mare 

 fanciful than descriptive. 



Although there is no fear of any one confounding the 

 Hart's Tongue with other species, it is our duty to indi- 

 cate the differences between the genus to which it belongs 

 and its allies. In the Hart's Tongue Eerns the long 

 clusters of spore-cases are arranged in pairs, which are 

 closely placed side by side, covered through their whole 

 length, at first by a membrane, which ultimately splits 

 down the centre between the twin clusters, and exposes 

 the brown spore-cases in long rusty rows. These rows 

 are parallel in an oblique direction, proceeding from near 

 the mid-rib towards the margin of the frond. 



Though the single species is very much giyen to varia- 

 tion, it is the only species which is either indigenous or 



