THE FERN PARADISE. 
or tootlied — the points of the lobes being bluntish 
or rounded — and their bases being run to- 
gether give the appearance of a leafy wing on each 
side of the mid-stem of the branch. Towards the 
point of the frond the branches diminish in length, 
and become less in breadth, the lobes becoming 
gradually less and less deeply cut in, until they are 
finally mere serratures. These, in turn, disappear 
as the branches merge in the point of the frond, 
which then itself becomes notched, finally ending 
in a point. A perfectly grown specimen of the 
Mountain Buckler Fern has an extremely elegant 
aspect. It is — although in some of its features 
like the Male Fern — more delicate in its general 
appearance than that species : there is a more 
delicate tint of a lighter, more golden green about 
its fronds, and the more regular arrangement of 
its branches gives to it greater symmetry, grace 
and beauty. 
The Mountain Buckler Fern, as its name indi- 
cates, is found — sometimes in great abundance — 
chiefly in mountainous districts; sometimes in 
woods, where it grows in a slate of great luxu- 
riance ; and sometimes fringing the banks of 
35b 
