50 
nium.) All seem to allow that there is a kind of ridge as 
thin as the finest muslin or gauze, which is to be found 
close to the veins on which the clusters lie. Nature does 
not require the same perfect covering for the bags of spores, 
as the chafiy scales perform the same part. The fronds 
grow in tufts, and are thick and fieshy. Most Terns, if not 
perfectly transparent, are not what we should style opaque, 
as is the case with this. The stalk is short and scaly. The 
roots, though not long, force their way into the mortar or 
crevices of the rocks, to which they firmly adhere. As the 
plant generally grows on lime-stone, we are surprised that it 
has not been found at Charmouth or Lyme. Being rather 
fleshy, it is difficult to discover the veins. The mid-vein rises 
from the lower corner and bends a winding course to the mid- 
dle of the highest part of the lobe. The side-veins rise 
alternately, and fork once or twice successively, and intersect 
the branches of the other side-veins. The clusters are 
always on the highest branch of each, opening towards the 
top of the leaflet or division, except in the case of the lowest 
branch of the lowest side-vein, wffich often has fruit also : 
then the covers of the clusters open towards the mid-rib 
of the frond. If other English Terns were found in a fos- 
silized state, it is very improbable that this would be dis- 
covered. Much water causes it to decay. It is generally 
found on a dry rock or wall. Larger specimens are, how- 
ever, gathered in places not exposed to the mid-day sun. 
The upper surface of the plant is of a dull green colour, 
with a shade of yellow. In its young state, it is curious to 
see how the alternate divisions of the curled-in fronds, like 
the teeth of a rat gin, exactly fit into one another. 
This is rather a scarce Tern, especially in the Devonshire 
part of the district, and here only found growing on walls. 
It is most abundant at Wooden {vulg. Wootton) farm, in 
the parish of Chardstock, and there, not on the limestone 
rocks, but only on the walls. It is also met with at Chard, 
Colyton, Uplyme church wall, and other localities which will 
be hereafter enumerated. 
In olden times this was in great repute for diseases of the 
spleen. Dioscorides, mentioned in the verses at the head 
of this article, was not the only person to recommend it. 
Parkinson states, that the herb and root being boiled and 
