RAMBLES IN SEARCH OF FERNS. 
51 
hue of the leaflets paler, and the whole growth and aspect of the 
plant more delicate. It was the Green-stalked Spleen wort (A . viride, 
Fig. 8). The leaflets in this fern were rather broader in proportion 
than those of the Black-stalked Spleenwort. 
We mounted our ponies to return, but this time we traversed the 
other side of the valley. Near Gunnerside we returned into our old 
road, and in doing so crossed a curious sloping bridge ; here a little 
fern was growing from the frequent crevices, but Esther begged me 
not to wait to gather it, for I should find it again at the quarry. AVe 
ascended the steep hill behind Gunnerside, and then rode along 
briskly through the wide moor pastures, admiring the graceful cotton 
grass waving in the wind, and the plots of bay asphodel, whose golden 
spikes lifted themselves so proudly, as if claiming relationship with its 
shadowy ancestor, the hero of old romance. 
Arrived at the quarry, or rather series of quarries, on the steep 
hill-side, I found that the stone was a conglomerate of the shells of the 
giant lima, called in the familiar language of the country, cockle. 
The stone was in a very decomposed state, and we found no difficulty in 
disinterring some of the heavy shells, the markings on which remained 
as perfect as when they were living. Smaller shells closely allied 
were there, and stems of animal lilies in abundance. The cypress- 
like ferns were not waving over these, as they waved over the corals 
iD the wood, but the little spleenwort, called AA r all-rue, was resolved 
that their tomb should not be without verdure ( Asplenum ruta 
muraria , Fig. 9). This little fern closely resembles the leaf of the 
common garden rue, the fronds have a somewhat glaucous tinge, and 
a dark shade ; the seed masses are larger in proportion to the leaflets, 
so that they nearly cover the under surface. This plant with its two 
brothers, the Alternate-leaved and Forked Spleenworts, is exceedingly 
difficult to cultivate. It will grow in masses from desolate rocks, or 
from dull old brick walls, where its fronds become coated with dust, or 
netted over by cobwebs ; but you may take the greatest pains to coax 
it in the fernery, and fail entirely. You may plant it in fine sand, 
