THE FERNY MOORLANDS. 
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beautiful specimens of the Lady Fern, of all sizes. 
Here also is the lemon-scented Mountain Buckler 
Fern. We saw a number of these lovely plants. 
It was no wonder that the Ferns in this delightful 
grove were so luxuriant, for the soil consisted of 
nothing but spongy, sandy, leaf-mould. The soft 
and exquisitely beautiful scenery in, around, and 
above this charming wood it is almost impossible 
to describe. The ground covered with waving 
Fern-fronds; on one side the foaming waterfall, 
on the other the river with its Fern-fringed banks; 
above, the interlaced tops of the trees in the 
grove, through which might be seen the great 
wood-covered hills which shut in the prospect all 
round, and, towering up against the blue sky, 
seemed almost to fold over us like a delightful 
canopy with a loveliness that cannot be described. 
From Fingle Bridge back to Moretonhamp- 
stead, along the intricate moorland path. From 
Moretonhampstead to Horseman’s Steps, across 
four miles of delightful country, and through 
ferny valleys, up ferny hills, and through ferny 
lanes. This was our route on the day of our visit 
to the ferny borders of Dartmoor. We reach, 
