NOTICES OF BOOKS. 127 



■A very distinct species. It has occasioned no discussion on that 

 head (except indeed with regard to the slight variety called Halleri), 

 but in regard to the various localities given for it in Britain so much 

 doubt and uncertainty have prevailed, that some botanists have alto- 

 gether excluded it from the Flora of the British Isles. We believe we 

 have thrown as much light on this subject as it will admit of in the 

 last volume of this Journal (p. 340), and clearly shown that it has 

 unquestionable right to be considered a native ; and since that notice 

 was published we have received a most obliging letter from the Kev. 

 William Hawker (the veracity of whose locality cannot be called in 

 question), and from which we give the following extract, — the more 

 interesting as the same letter notes new stations for two other local 

 Ferns :— " I had the good fortune to find the "Fern in question (Jsj)l. 

 fontanum) in the year 1852, on an old wall in my father's (Admiral 

 Hawker's) grounds ; there were about fifteen tufts of it, one of them 

 nearly as large round as my hat. I had known of the existence of the 

 Fern on this wall for several years, but only in 1853 commenced study- 

 ing that class of botany, and then soon found out the value of my old 

 neighbour. I think I can remember it on the wall nearly as far back 

 as the year 1837, but, as that would take me back to ten years of age, 

 I cannot vouch for any longer period. Mr. Borrer and Mr. Wollaston 

 (of Chiselhurst) each paid the Fern a visit, and expressed themselves 

 much pleased with it. I was over at my father's a few days ago (his 

 place is only ten miles from here), and obtained some fronds for drying 

 direct from the wall, a few of which I now have the pleasure to enclose 

 you. I also enclose some fronds off a plant of the same species from 

 Berlin, and some which I gathered last year on the Jura ; both of these 

 plants differ somewhat in habit from the British form of this species. 

 You win perhaps be pleased to hear that last summer I had the good 

 fortune to meet with two plants of AHplenhm Germanicum in Cumber- 

 land, growing in company with fFoodsia Ilvenm and A. septentnomle ; 

 I also, the year before, discovered (for the first time in the Enghsh 

 lake-district) Folystichum Lonchitis ; but J am not able to boast of all 

 this without having worked ' Uke a horse' for it." 



To the dubious list of recorded habitats o{ J. fontanum v^c could 

 offer another, communicated by the Hon. Fox Strangways, m a note 

 dated Abbotsbury, 16th January, ISBfi :-" 1 believe Tcan add a 



Asplenium fonta 



the Falls of the 



