THE FERN WORLD 
114 
which, shown in strong relief against deep green patches of 
clustering moss, imparted a singular element of beauty to the 
whole scene. After wandering a little way along the course 
of the stream we reached a spot where another combe, musical 
also with murmuring water, and running obliquely towards 
the one we were exploring, merged its course in the latter; 
the two streams commingled forming a greater breadth of 
running water, making a sound like the music of a little 
torrent, and filling the air with a volume of soft vapours. 
The luxuriance of Fern life at this spot was singularly great. 
Lastrea montana, with fronds fully four feet in length, spread 
around their delicious fragrance. On one large plant of 
Lastrea jilix-mus we counted a clustering mass of sixty 
glorious fronds, whilst great Bracken, more than two yards 
long, spread their graceful feathery tops over the whole. 
Looking down the combe as it descends to the sea, the hills 
are seen to rise higher and higher, their sides now densely 
and darkly clothed with fronds of the Brake, now lightened 
by golden-flowered gorse and purple heather blossoms, and 
now by soft mossy turf. Anon, as if to contrast with its 
delightful verdure— the graceful clothing of Fern, and the 
bright colours of gorse and heather — the hill becomes bare 
and shows its stony side. But rarely in these charming 
combes does a whole hill-side rise gaunt and bare ; for gorse, 
heather, and Fern gain a footing in some moist spot, relieving 
the scene from the harsh and rugged aspect of barren uni- 
formity. 
Just as we round the hill-side on our right, we light upon 
a small grassy plateau at the junction of the streams, offering 
a tempting resting-place from which to look down at the 
charming scene lying below us. From this point of view to 
the point where the twin streams join and mingle their 
waters in one rich chorus of sound, there is a fall in the bank 
to the depth of some twenty feet. We cannot see the rush- 
