280 
THE FERN PARADISE . 
on the living plant, either in a wild or cultivated 
state. We, therefore, started in our first search 
for the wild plant from Totnes in the direction 
of Berry Pomeroy Castle, — having been assured 
that we should find some specimens on an old 
wall which skirted the wood surrounding the 
Castle. We were some time in finding the old 
wall in question ; but we at length lighted upon 
it. Carefully we searched on both sides for some 
distance, but without encountering anything at 
all like our descriptions of Ceterach. Presently, 
however, the boundary wall was cast into deeper 
shadow by the high and overlopping branches of 
the trees in the wood ; and continuing our search 
along the inner side of the wall, we at length found 
several fine plants of the Scale Fern revelling in 
the old mortar and leaf-mould, in a deep shady 
cleft formed by the pointed coping stones. There 
could be no mistaking the strongly-marked cha- 
racteristics of Ceterach — the thick, green velvety 
texture of the frond on one side, and the dense 
carpeting of rich reddish-brown scales on the 
under surface. 
