68 BURMA, IT^ PEOPLE AND PRODUCTIOyS. 



descnption of a few of the more remarkable ferns (as of Oreliids) may be fournl 

 here, it does not fall within the compass of this work, nor is it possible within the 

 limits prescribed, to give this in the case of all the species mentioned. It is the less 

 needful, as a published work exists, in which eveiy known Burmese fern will be 

 found fully and scientifically described, the " Synopsis Filicum." Accordingly, I 

 simply mention that the above-named fern, one of the many so-called " silver fenis " 

 (because their under-surfaoe is covered with a white powdery — farinaceous — substance), 

 is a Bunnan fern, to be found, no doubt, in many places, but, specially, on rocks 

 at Knlwee in Beloo-gewn, near Maulmain. It used to be found on rocks close 

 behind the General Hospital and elsewhere on the hill, sparingly : but I doubt 

 if it be not now exterminated. Dr. Mason, no doubt, means this fern, by 

 " Nothochltena argentea " ; but no Nothochlicna has yet been found, as far as I 

 know, in Burma. 



C. AEGENTEA, HoolceV. 



Another silver-backed fern — with varieties of a golden colour — is to be gathered 

 on Zwa-ga-byn, already mentioned (another small Paradise for a Botanist), near the 

 top, together with C. rufa, Nephrodium. {Arfhrohofii/s of Wallicli) corlihatttm, Lijcopo- 

 diiim inrolvens (a very curious and rare plant), and a host of other interesting things, 

 both Cryptogamic and Phanerogamic. The remarkable point about the discovery 

 of C. argentea here is that the other localities given for it are such as Ural, Siberia ; 

 Kamfsehatka ; Allai ; and the Russian possessions in N. America ; also at 5500 feet 

 in Khasya. Ou Zwa-ga-byn it is found at 2000 feet of elevation, and not there only, 

 but generally, on Limestone rocks, in the neighbourhood of Maulmain and within 

 a few hundi-ed feet of the phiin, and of very large size. It may be worthy of 

 note, that several plants appear to descend to a lower level in Burma than else- 

 where; for example, Oaks in Beloo-gewn at the sea-level; Pines, east of Mya-wad- 

 dee, very few feet above the sea-level — ahinuhmt at 1000 feet; and Ehododendi-a at 

 4000 feet on Dauna-toung, Maulmain, and on No-a-la-bo, Tavoy, in latitude 14°. 



OxTCHIUll' AUEATUII, Kaulf. 



A golden-backed fern. It seems to afFect old Toung-i/as and other clearings, 

 ■where it is often most abundant ; occasionally also it may bo gathered on old 

 Pagodas, rooting itself between the bricks. Kulwee ; Ascent of Toung-wine, 

 Maulmain ; and Ka-la-ma-toung, Martaban. 



Pteris- aquiltna, Z. 



The common English brake. A fem found all over the world in both hemi- 

 spheres, "unless it bo absent from S. temperate America, from which there are no 

 specimens in the Kew Herbarium. In Lapland it just passes within the Arctic 

 cii'cle. It ascends in Scotland to 2000 feet ; in the Cameroon Mountains to 7000 

 feet ; in Abyssinia to 8000 or 9000 feet ; in the Himalayas to about 8000 feet. " 

 {Synopsis). Our highest Burmese mountains are about 8000 feet (Nat-toung, Toung- 

 ngu, being a little under this), and although I do not recollect noticing it at the 

 summit of that mountain, it does most proliably attain to our highest points. The 

 lowest height at which I have found it is 700 feet above the sea, which is the height 

 of Patau, Madremacam, Jlergui, where it is found growing luxuriantly. Morgui is in 

 about 12^ North Latitude. This is, if I mistake not, another instance of a plnnt 

 being found at an unusually low level on the Burmese coast. " Dr. Spruce has 

 seen it in the Andes 14 feet high" {Si/iiopsis). In Burma I should say it attains 

 the average height which it attains in England. 



P. loxgifolia, £. 



A common tropical species, to he seen on almost every wall and Pagoda that 

 is at all dilajiidated, nor does it always wait for that state, so impatient is it to 

 establish its title to a footing. Martaban Pagoda used to be covered with it. 



' Onyt-hium. tlcul, a nail of the hand, from supposed resemblance of segments. 

 ' I'toiis. TTTeph, a fem. 



