84 J. E. LITTLEBOY — OUR LOCAL FEKNS. 



able circumstances the frond itself will measure six to eight inches, 

 and its almost black stipes nearly as much. The Aspleniutn 

 Adiantum-nigrum is extremely abundant wherever the sandstones 

 of the Coal-measures, or the rocks of the Silurian formation, are 

 prevalent, and it hangs in graceful sprays on the northern side of 

 old stone walls or ruins. 



2. Asplenium Ruta-muraria. — This is the smallest of our local 

 ferns, and might readily be mistaken by the uninitiated for a moss. 

 In this district it grows, as far as I am aware, exclusively from 

 among the mortar in old walls. I have found it in several locali- 

 ties, and I am inclined to think that it is more generally distributed 

 than it is frequently supposed to be. It finds its most congenial 

 home among the rocky hills of Wales and Scotland : its tiny fronds 

 peep out from the fissures of the roeks, and often defy the most 

 determined etforts of the collector to remove them. It is com- 

 monly known as the "rue" fern, from the great similarity of its 

 fi'onds to the leaves of that plant. 



3. Asplenium Trichemanes. — The maidenhair spleenwort, as this 

 beautiful little fern is frequently called, is found but rarely in our 

 district ; it has, however, its established habitats, and is unquestion- 

 ably indigenous. Like the two preceding species, it thrives most 

 luxuriantly on the rocks of the Coal-measures. It festoons with 

 its ornamental clusters the sides of most of the stone walls that 

 prevail so universally in the Coal-districts, and lends not un- 

 frequently a pleasing charm to many a forsaken building or other- 

 wise unsightly engine-house. 



4. Athyrium Filix-foemina. — The beautiful " lady-fem " may 

 fairly be considered the Queen of British Ferns. It is perfectly 

 distinct, and readily distinguishable from all others by the veriest 

 novice in fern-culture. Its peculiarly graceful and feathery fronds, 

 always of the palest green, spring up in charming clusters and in 

 profuse abundance beside the hill-sides and rivulets of many of 

 our English counties. On this side of Herts it occurs but rarely, 

 but it grows in tolerable abumlaucc; in the neighbourhood of Wig- 

 ginton Common. There is a deserted lane crossing the table-land 

 between Tring and Chesham, which is peculiarly rich in the pro- 

 duction of ferns. Not only are two varieties of the lady-fern to 

 be found, in close proximity, in this favoured spot, but BJecJntum 

 Spicant, Lastrea spinulosa, Lastrea dilatata, and Lastrea Orropfcn's, 

 are all more or less abundant. The soil is of rich loam, and 1 

 believe that most of the varieticis mentioned will only be found 

 where a loamy soil prevails. Like most of its family, the lady- 

 fern delights in a damp shady situation. 



" "Where the morning dew lies longest, 

 There the Lady Fern grows strongest." 



5. Athyrium Filix-foemina, var. convexum. — This is a distinct 

 variety of the lady-fern, with purple stipes, and generally of 

 more rigid appearance, that is tolerably common, and wliich, as 1 

 have already stated, is to be found near "VVii 



