14 HAEDY FERNS. 
more in my searches tlian anything I have read in 
books. He said, Yes, it is always a difficulty to 
beginners ; but the best way is to make yourself 
thoroughly acquainted with the look of the true 
Fern before you hunt for it, and in difficult 
varieties to try and get a frond, so that you may 
match it;" and, in order to help me further, 
Mr. Bree sent me a number of fronds, such as 
Lastrea Fcenisecii, L. cristata, L. rigida (found by 
Mr. Bree at Ingieborough, in Yorkshire), Poly- 
podium phegopteris, P. calcareum, &c., to take 
about with me till I had either found their fellows 
or learned the true notes of their speciality. Of 
Polystichum lonchitis there was only one true 
l^hnt in my immediate neighbourhood, and this 
had but three fronds, so I had to make it a morn- 
ing call and learn its features as best I could. 
Furnished with my book of ''patterns," a black 
tourist's bag, two trowels, one fiat like a brick- 
layer's, to pick Ferns out of rock or wall, I set off 
on a Scotch tour. I was provided with all the 
requisite means of collecting the Ferns ; but how 
