SCALE FEENS. 



87 



TSE SCALE FEBNS. 



Spore-cases concealed amongst brown chaffy scales. 



These are sometimes called " Eusty-backs," because 

 the whole under surface of the fronds are of a rusty- 

 brown colour, from the numerous brown scales which 

 cover them. The clusters of spore-cases are so imbedded 

 amogigst these chaffy scales, that it is often difficult to 

 detect their presence. This is so conspicuous a feature in 

 the Scale Terns, that it is scarcely necessary for our 

 present purpose to indicate any other point of difference 

 between them and their nearest associates. Having to 

 deal with British species, our only object is to indicate, 

 in a plain and easy manner, how the unscientific person 

 may learn to distinguish one from another, without being 

 troubled with minute and delicate differences and tech- 

 nical distinctions. "We possess but one indigenous Scale 

 Tern, which bears amongst botanists the generic name of 

 CeteracJi, and which term is supposed to be a corruption 

 of the name applied to it by old Oriental writers. It is 

 far less suggestive than the less classical but more 

 popular names of either Scale Terns or Eusty-backs. 



SCALE PEEN.^ 



Sometimes called the Eusty-back, and sometimes the 

 Scaly Spleenwort. So characteristic is it, and so well 

 known, that description is almost unnecessary. 



This fern grows in a close tuft from a short thick scaly 

 root-stock. The entire length of the frond is from 4 to 



* Ceterach officinarum, Willd. 



