238 THE FERN PARADISE. 



3- THE HAY-SCENTED BUCKLER FERN. 



Lastrea recurva. 



As its name indicates, the peculiar characteristic 

 of this delicate and beautiful fern, is the exqui- 

 site scent which is given forth from its fronds. 

 Abundant in some localities, especially in the 

 west of England and Ireland, it is rare in others. 

 It is somewhat rare in Scotland. In parts of 

 Devonshire it is very plentiful. Yet, sometimes a 

 large district might be searched for miles around 

 without the search resulting in the discovery of 

 a single specimen. It grows in damp woods and 

 on shady hedge-banks. We remember with plea- 

 sure an excursion which we took from Totnes, 

 in search of the Hay-scented Fern, under the 

 guidance of Charles Hillman, of Torquay, a " fern 

 man" of rare experience. The nearest habitat was 

 five miles distant from Totnes, and we wended 

 our way up hill and down dale, through five 

 miles of ferny lanes, until, arrived at the brow of 

 a hill, we began to descend to the lower ground 

 along a narrow road, shut in by high fern-covered 



