36 BRITISH FERNS. 
the down is extremely soft and compact, like the 
finest cotton-wool, and it seems to have very little 
: connexion with the stalk, falling off in large flakes, 
even before the frond has unfolded. This, however, 
 @e very unusual character; the clothing of the 
stem more commonly consists of scales, some of 
which are very narrow and hair-like, while others 
are broad, flat, and of very considerable size; these 
adhere to the stalk until removed by some slight 
The shape of the frond is usually described without 
teference to the stalk, and with regard only to what 
may be termed the circumscription or outline ; this is 
_ always considered quite independently of the nume- 
rous finely-cut divisions, which give to a Fern such 
exquisite and feathery beauty. This outline or cir- 
cumseription varies from the broad triangular or 
deltoid form which distinguishes the Common Brakes, 
almost exactly intermediate bien these two, 
Known as lanceolate, a term which Sir James 
