Then the trees were much taller than he had been led to suppose, and the creeping plants more numerous, while, to his surprise, the wild-flowers were comparatively few and small.

But the scarcity of these was somewhat compensated by the rich and brilliant colouring of the foliage.
The abundance and variety of the ferns also struck the youth particularly.
"Ah! zey are magnificent!" exclaimed Verkimier with enthusiasm.

"Look at zat tree-fern.

You have not'ing like zat in England--eh! I have found nearly von hoondred specimens of ferns.

Zen, look at zee fruit-trees.