log 



in spinulosa, and darker still in dilatata. In the two latter 

 species the scales lie closely packed, and the eggs are con- 

 sequently smooth and sometimes even glossy, while in 

 &mula the scales stand more or less on end and give the 

 eggs a rough or woolly appearance. Still another 

 character by which cemula can generally be distinguished 

 is the scent which, however, is only perceptible while the 

 fronds are undergoing the drying process. While per- 

 fectly fresh the fronds, like the stems of the Sweet Vernal 

 Grass (which gives its well-known scent to half-made hay), 

 are perfectly odourless, but during drying the cumarin scent 

 is obvious and unmistakable. When the fronds become 

 quite dry, or very shortly afterwards, they are again quite 

 scentless, so that this character is of little or no use in 

 the case of herbarium specimens. Although I have 

 known cemula under cultivation for nearly fifty years, I 

 had a very imperfect idea of its real beauty until I saw 

 it a few years ago growing in wild luxuriance in Co. 

 Donegal. When really at home, as there, it is a lovely 

 fern of a vivid grass green colour, by which it can be 

 distinguished at a considerable distance before its form 

 can be made out. The crispate surface gives it also 

 at a distance a peculiarly velvety look, which is very 

 characteristic. 



A very puzzling ally of dilatata, though not a very close 

 one, is L. remota of Moore. It is not a real natural species, 

 because it is nowhere found wild in quantity, and does not, 

 so far as is known, reproduce itself from spores. It is 

 generally regarded as a hybrid between L. filix-mas 

 and L. spinulosa. It has the outline of the former, with 

 the more divided pinnules and spinulose teeth of the latter. 

 It has also the erect caudex of filix-mas and pseudo-mas, 

 and will in time develop a trunk like the latter. The 

 scales are intermediate in character between those of 

 the supposed parents, and are quite devoid of the dark 



