THE BUCKLER FERNS. 245 



of the Hay-scented Buckler Fern, there is emitted, 

 when the fronds are bruised, an exquisite scent 

 of hay. When the Mountain Buckler Fern is 

 crushed or rubbed a very strong balsamic odour 

 is emitted ; and this is a characteristic which 

 renders it easily recognizable. There is further an 

 unmistakable mark of recognition in the form of 

 its fronds. About these there is a sort of general 

 resemblance to the Male Fern, except in one 

 particular. In the Male Fern the frond tapers to 

 a point upwards ; but not in the opposite direc- 

 tion, although the branches at the base of the 

 frond are sometimes a little shorter than those 

 in the centre. But the branches of the frond in 

 the Mountain Buckler Fern taper downwards 

 towards the base, almost as much as they taper 

 upwards ; the branches in the lowest part being 

 nothing more than the tiniest leafy excrescences on 

 each side of the rachis. This continuation of the 

 leafy portion of the frond downwards necessarily 

 leaves but a very short stipes to the Mountain 

 Fern; and this short stipes is covered with rust- 

 coloured scales. On the rachis of the frond in 



