BRITISH FERNS. 
15 
a somewhat similar hook ; the Shield Fern, in addition to its young 
fronds being clothed with snow-white glistening scales, turns its 
coil right over backwards, inside out as it were, the stalk gradually 
stiffening and straightening as it develops ; in the Mountain Lastrea 
(L, montnna) 'the ball-like top maintains its roundness and is 
beset with the bristling points of its side divisions, sticking out 
like Magog’s spiky weapon ; while the little Oak Fern hangs out 
a miniature edition of the pawnbroker’s sign as a preliminary to 
forming its tripartite fronds. Then, too, as the varietal characters 
of tassel and plume develop the interest of the Fern lover develops 
as well, while if he or she has attained the status of a Fern finder 
or raiser of new forms, the watching of the fresh growth on 
perhaps quite new lines affords a pleasure, the intensity of which 
can only be conceived by those who have expei ienced it. All 
tlvs proves, we think, abundantly enough that the possessor of 
a shady garden who has fallen into an abyss of despair owing 
to repeated floricultural failures, has only to try his hand with 
more fitting denizens of his little domain to be well rewarded. 
Athvrium filix-fcemina vak. revolvjsns (Duueky). 
