THE ROYAL FERN. 283 
into their midst, we soon find ourselves on the 
river’s brink. Then we emerge again into the 
full daylight. The sun sparkles on the rippling 
stream, giving the light as from ten thousand 
• diamonds; and here, at last, bending over the 
banks—their tall fronds spreading outwards and 
moving responsively to the breeze, which is 
briskly blowing—are Osmundas in rich profu¬ 
sion ! Hard by is a fine tuft of the Mountain 
Buckler Fern, and intermingled with it are equally 
fine tufts of the Hard Fern. Both are on the ex¬ 
treme brink of the stream, and their roots and 
those of the Osmundas are within reach of the 
abundant moisture, which is the secret of their 
grand proportions. Split fragments of rock are 
scattered about on the river side and in mid 
stream, giving a wild picturesqueness to the whole 
scene, which is beyond description lovely. The 
gurgling, splashing, foaming water, sparkling 
with its ten thousand diamond flashes; the wood- 
bounded, winding banks, with waving Fern- 
fronds, now carried aloft and arching outwards 
with graceful symmetry, now softly drooping, 
whilst their pendant tips are caught one moment 
s 2 
