198 THE FERN PARADISE. 



into the point of the frond. Placed on opposite 

 sides of the stem, on the two lowest pairs of 

 branches, are pairs of leaflets ; the largest of which 

 those nearest the commencement of the rachis 

 being quite separated from the pairs next them, 

 and themselves slightly notched or serrated. The 

 succeeding pairs of leaflets are less and less 

 notched, and less separated from the outer pairs, 

 until they finally blend in the point of the branch 

 in the same way as the branches blend at the 

 point of the frond. The same gradual process is 

 observable in the upper branches or leaflets of the 

 frond, the lobes on the lowest of these branches 

 being divided down to the midrib at the base of 

 the branch, and less divided towards its point. 

 The fourth pair of branches or leaflets from the 

 commencement of the rachis is deeply notched 

 only: the next pair above less notched and less 

 distinct, and so on until, as before explained, they 

 all blend in a point. 



The Limestone Polypody has not a wide distri- 

 bution. It occurs in localities in the north of 

 England, and is found in some parts of the West 



