44 THE IMITATION, IN CLOSED CASES, OF 
Thelypteris, and the lovely lady-fern would luxu- 
riate ; whilst on the borders of the little brook 
or in the centre of the water, the royal Osmunda 
would raise itself to the height of ten or twelve 
feet, as if conscious of its sovereignty, and worthy 
of the admiration elicited from Sir Walter Scott, 
when visiting the Lakes of Killarney. One or 
two chalk or sandstone caves might be lined in- 
ternally with the Asplenium marinum, its massive 
dark green and glossy leaves beautifully contrast- 
ing with the light and elegant foliage of the 
maidenhair growing on the top. In the more 
elevated portions, and fully exposed to light, 
Allosorus crispus, Cistopteris fragilis, and the 
other species and varieties would thrive (with 
the exception of the rare Cistopteris montana , 
which should be planted in reach of the spray), 
as would Asplenium septentrionale, and the Wood- 
sias ; whilst every chink and crevice might be 
occupied with Polypodium Dryopteris, P. calea- 
reum, P. Phegopteris, Asplenium Trichomanes , Adi- 
antum nigrum , lanciolatum, fc. Such a house 
might be made very useful in determining those 
varieties of ferns which depend upon varying 
climatal differences, and in limiting the multi- 
plication of species which now appears to be 
increasing rather too rapidly. A great number 
of the more beautiful or rare British flowering 
