6 . 
THE TRUE MAIDENHAIR. 
Adiantum cap Ulus- Veneris. 
Plate 5, Ficl 1, Page 225. 
One of the most delicately-beautiful, as also one of' the 
rarest of our native Ferns is tire True Maidenhair. It in- 
habits chiefly the moist, rocky nooks of our sea cliffs and 
their dripping caverns. It but seldom grows inland, for 
the sea air, in its wild state, appears to be essential to it. 
Its favourite habitats are on limestone coasts, and it loves 
— on the open seaward side of a cliff, and not within its 
cavernous recesses — a situation where a trickling stream 
of water from the cliff-top flows over or near its delicate 
rhizomas. But it mostly is found in the highest and least 
accessible parts of a cliff, nestling, perhaps, under the 
dark shelter of a jutting fragment of rock, or growing in 
the dark, moist depth of little hollows in the cliff side. The 
Fern hunter, who has boldly scaled a precipitous rock in 
search of the Maidenhair, may look into such a hollow, and 
for a moment, perhaps, can see nothing but darkness, and 
hear only the soft trickling sound of water. But after he 
lias been looking for a moment he will, perhaps, begin to 
recognize some delicate forms of the Maidenhair Fern, 
revelling in the coolness and moisture. Often the Maiden- 
hair will grow on the perpendicular side of the cliff, if the 
position be sheltered by some shrub or plant. 
Description. — The botanic name of the True Maiden- 
