194 
THE FERN PARADISE. 
upon, and is of a tint that is most exquisitely 
delicate and beautiful. The pretty little fern is in 
general very abundant in the localities where it 
is found ; but these are chiefly away from the 
southern counties of England. In the north- 
western counties, in Wales, and also in Scotland, 
it is plentifully distributed. In Ireland it is rare. 
It is found in very much the same situations as 
the Mountain Polypody ; and it delights in the 
same kind of soil, but it does not need quite the 
same amount of moisture which is demanded by 
Polypodium phegopteris. Like all the Polypodies, 
it has a creeping rhizome. In fact, it is a wonderful 
traveller : and, in cultivation, is often found to 
come up in places where it is not expected, so 
extensively does it creep. From the under surface 
of the rhizome, or creeping root-stock, proceed its 
fibrous roots ; and these oftentimes, when the 
fern is growing on a spongy bed of leaf- 
mould, become densely matted. From all parts 
of its travelling rhizome start the pretty and 
delicate fronds ; sometimes in such profusion 
as to give to them the appearance of a 
