71 
as referred to in local guide books, &c. Preris aguilina, grows on 
almost every dry hillock which tillage has never interfered with. 
Lomaria spicant, not infrequent, but, unlike the preceding, prefers 
moisture and shade. Asflenium ruta-muraria, seldom met with 
along the coast, and there only rooting in the crevices of the drier 
Tocks, apparently preferring the limestone inland to the Carbon- 
iferous sandstone that abuts upon the beach. A. ¢richomanes ; the 
remarks on the preceding species are equally applicable to the 
present, which is also frequently seen among the slate rocks of the 
lake hills. 4. marinum, frequent among the crevices of the cliffs 
at St. Bees Head. A. adiantum nigrum, on dry hedge-banks at 
intervals along the coast. Athyrium filix-femina, both the typical 
form and the var. rheticum abound in moist localities. Scolopen- 
drium vulgare is found luxuriantly at the base of the cliffs at 
St. Bees, where trickling rills approach the high water line; is also 
not infrequent in gills that open upon the coast; varieties with 
bifid or trifid fronds are not uncommon. Aspidium aculeatum, not 
uncommon in shady and secluded nooks. A. angudare also holds 
a place in aravine that I well wot of. Mephrodium, or Lastrea 
Jilix-mas, the ordinary Male Fern, is one of the commonest of the 
tribe ; it is the “ Meckin” of the dalesmen, as distinguished from 
the “ Breckin,” Preris aguilina,—the only sorts recognised by the 
unlearned ; the var. dorreri is far from uncommon. JV. spinulosum 
is reported from the neighbourhood of Whitehaven, probably 
along the St. Bees line of rocks. JV. dilatatum is a fairly common 
_ species; some four or five years after the opening of the Solway 
_ Junction Railway, I was interested to notice the way in which this 
fern was becoming established about the edges of the open cuts 
_ made for the drainage of the line, even in the deepest part of 
_ Bowness Moss. JV. emulum ; I have been shown living specimens 
_ of this fern which were brought from the St. Bees cliffs; I have 
_ hever seen the plant 7” siti. MV. oreopteris, an abundant species 
in the valleys of the Lake District; is also to be found on the 
_ coast at St. Bees, Maryport, Salta, and elsewhere. olypodium 
‘ ‘vulgare, common on walls, tree stumps, etc., throughout the district. 
 Osmunda regalis, known in some places as the “Bog Onion,” hag 
