﻿Gilbert : Revision of the Bermuda Ferns 599 



Of course he had not visited the islands, but was working on 

 specimens ostensibly collected there. The species is so common 

 and so well known in Europe that there could be no question of 

 error in its determination. The only suggestion might be that, 

 as the Challenger collections were obtained from a large number 

 of islands in different parts of the world, a few fronds of this com- 

 mon fern might by accident have found their way into a collection 

 where they did not belong. I saw nothing of it in Bermuda, but 

 it may be a species that has disappeared from those islands, and 

 being in the Kew collection it must stand as a Bermuda species, 

 at least of a former time. 



Dryopteris Capensis (Willd.) Gilbert. 



This noble species, which is denominated the " ten -days fern " 

 by Bermudians, because it will keep green ten days after it is cut, 

 grows in the Devonshire marsh, but, as Lefroy says, " it is in danger 

 of extermination, not being abundant." He transferred some plants 

 to Pembroke marsh, but they do not seem to have become estab- 

 lished. I found one plant (or " tree," as they call all single plants 

 in Bermuda) of it under a ledge at Paynter's Vale, but that was the 

 only other locality where it was seen. 



Dryopteris ampla (Mett.) Gilbert. 



Mr. Hemsley cites Paynter's Vale for this fern. Governor 

 Lefroy says it is « common by roadsides." There is no reason to 

 doubt that the species grows or has grown in Bermuda, but it is 

 doubtful if it was ever "common." Had it been so I must have 

 seen some trace of it. Most o( the species of ferns are in their 

 best estate in March and April, but this species may appear later 

 in the season, which would account for my not finding it. It be- 

 longs especially to the West Indies and South America. 



Dryopteris patens (Sw.) Kuntze. 

 This fern is, next to Adiantum bdlum, the most common of any 

 in Bermuda. It grows in both dry and moist ground, but in the 

 marshes it attains its largest size, frequently reaching a height of 4 

 feet and a width of 1 V2 feet. 



