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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 
