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FILICES. 



Of the Filices or Ferns of the district, I will now proceed briefly 

 to enumerate the different species. The first plant in the Catalogue 

 of Ferns undoubtedly indigenous here is perhaps the most diminu- 

 tive native species, Hymenophyllum nnilaterale. During the last 

 two seasons I have found this little fern > much more widely 

 distributed in the recesses of our deepest mountain ravines, than I 

 had previously believed. On shady wet rocks it forms a curiously 

 matted covering, growing in many instances horizontally or even in 

 an inverted position, and so like moss that I have gathered it by 

 mistake more than once. Pteris aquilina : abundantly distributed 

 in the district ; varying from six inches to as many feet in height, 

 according to circumstances. Where it attains the largest size, as 

 in some parts of the deer-park at Gowbarrow, it is seldom found 

 to perfect its fructification : the fronds being without sori. Large 

 quantities of brackens are cut down in the autumn and used for 

 bedding. Cryptogramma crispa: grows profusely on the ledges 

 and in the clefts of rocks of the trap and slate formations through- 

 out the district. About old stone walls it is also abundant. When 

 removed from its native haunts, I believe it is found somewhat 

 difficult of cultivation, not readily accommodating itself to change 

 of locality or climatic influences. Lomaria spicant : in crevices of 

 moist rocky places, not unfrequent, Asplenium ruta-tnuraria : 

 abundant in fissures of the rocks, especially about the top of 

 Moordivock. A. septentrionale : in the summer of 1879 I found a 

 solitary specimen of this rare fern growing in the crevices of the 

 rocks near Red Tarn; in 1880 it had disappeared. A.trichomanes: 

 abundantly distributed about crevices of shaded rocks, walls of 

 ancient structure, &c., generally selecting a northern aspect, or at 

 least a position not exposed to the sun. A. viride : is still present 

 with us in two or three stations, which I cannot venture to make 

 public, from considerations which I trust the members of our 

 Association will correctly appreciate. A, adiantum-nigrutn: widely 

 distributed, though nowhere occurring in large numbers. On rocks, 

 old walls, quarry banks, and by shaded hedgerows. Athyriiim 



