THE SPLEENWORTS. 
433 
loves to grow on rocks and walls, even preferring 
the latter, and oftentimes growing abundantly 
within town limits, on barn and garden walls, and 
even on house walls. Average specimens are 
about three or four inches in length; but, under 
favourable conditions, they may attain a length 
of six, seven, eight, or more inches. They are 
believed to have an especial fondness for old 
mortar. Hence the reason why they are so fre 
quently found on old walls. 
The frond of the Scaly Spleenwort has a short 
stipes, scale-covered; and its upper portion con¬ 
sists of one elongated, deeply and widely scalloped 
leaf; or, perhaps, to make the explanation clearer, 
it would be desirable to liken the frond of the 
Scale Fern to* a coarse, double-edged saw; but 
what would correspond to the teeth of the saw 
are blunt-pointed lobes. The frond is widest 
at its centre, and tapers at each end. It has 
a thick midrib or rachis. • What constitutes 
the peculiar elegance of the Scale Fern is the 
contrast presented by the two sides of the frond. 
Its upper surface is of a rich bluish-green, soft 
and velvety to the touch; its under surface is 
