82 
If it is circinabe, but has its fructification on the ends of the 
fronds or their branches, and still no elastic ring, then we 
may be satisfied that it is the Eoyal Flowering Fern. These 
have no covers to their fructification. We have one more 
species that has no cover. Now, if we see a Fern that has 
its masses of spores on the back of the leaves without a 
cover, we may be confident that it is the Common Polypody, 
unless any of our friends should chance to light on the 
Lime-stone Polypody, (Folypodium Calcar eum) which has 
not been described in this book, and which would be a trea- 
sure indeed. If it has a round cover with a slit in it, and 
attached at the inmost point of that slit, then it is a Shield 
Fern, Lastrea : if it has a round cover without a slit and 
attached at the centre, then it is a Prickly Fern, Folystichtm, 
If it be a linear cover, and that a curved line, and attached 
the whole length, then it is that genus of the Spleenworts 
which is called Lady Fern, Athyrium, If the cover be a 
straight line and attached along the sides of the veins of the 
leaflet, then we have all the other Spleenworts, Asplenia. 
If the straight cover be in pairs, then it is a Hart’s- tongue, 
Scolopendrum : if it is obscure, and the masses of fruit are 
hid by scales, then it is the Scaly Spleenwort, CeteracJi. 
"W hen the straight linear cover is parallel with the mid-rib, 
it is a Northern Hard Fern, Blechnum^ and when it is on 
the margin and originates from the bent-in edge of the 
frond, it is Brake, Fteris. 
It is hoped that these hints, as well as those given in the 
commencement of the volume, will serve to remove any 
difficulty that may arise in attempting to discover the vari- 
ous Ferns of the neighbourhood. Several have been drawn 
already to amuse themselves with this simple study as a 
recreation, in consequence of our observations previously 
thrown out in a local newspaper. The endeavour has been 
made to make the subject understood by every class, and it 
is the source of no little pleasure to find, that not only the 
gentry, but the humble classes and mechanics have felt 
interested in the wild productions of their own locality. 
