DOWN A GEEEN LANE ! 
141 
Onward, still onward, and downward winds our 
lane, until, all at once, it becomes fairly buried 
under the glorious mass of vegetation which 
grows with such wild and beautiful luxuriance 
around and above. We have now almost to crawl 
underneath the bushes and the graceful Fern- 
fronds which literally choke up the way. For 
twenty or thirty yards our path is thus buried, and 
we are compelled to stoop until our chin almost 
touches our knees. Grand as we have hitherto 
found the development of Fern-life, here, in this 
spot, we find the grandest development of all. 
Oh! the keen enjoyment we derive from the 
delicious coolness of this almost subterranean 
avenue ! Midway in the glorious wealth of green 
there is a slight break in the bushes. Perched in 
the gap is a full-blown foxglove; and away 
beyond and above, arching Brakes and Male Ferns 
spread out and over us their graceful fronds. 
Once more the scene changes. Still swiftly 
descending, we pass a wood on our left, and then 
the lane again opens out. The pathway narrows, 
but the hedge-banks slope outwards, affording 
space for the most graceful development of the 
