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of old walls, this elegant little fern is fairly plentiful. The variety 

 b. dentata is occasionally met with. Aspidium lonehitis, the Holly 

 Fern : of this plant I can only speak from report ; its existence on 

 Carrock has frequently been alleged, but I have never met with it 

 there ; as my informants were trustworthy persons, I regard its 

 presence there as very probable. A. aculeatum and A. lobaium 

 Prickly Shield Fern, I am tempted to think only slightly divergent 

 types of one species ; I have found both forms of this fern from 

 Gatesgill upwards ; on the lower slopes of Carrock one of them 

 grows luxuriantly. Nephrodium filix mas, Male Fern, Meckans 

 or Meckins of the dalesmen ; a large and robust fern, plentiful 

 everywhere. The variety c. borreri is perhaps the only type readily- 

 distinguishable from the normal one. ^. spinulosum, which some 

 botanists look upon as merely a casual variety of the foregoing 

 species, is found in moist woods towards the head of the Valley, 

 as also about the bases of the mountains. N. dilaiatum, Broad 

 Prickly -Toothed Fern : another large fern of very varying character, 

 like some last mentioned species, is found abundantly in shady woods ; 

 some speciallyfine plants occur in the woods near High Head Castle. 

 i\^. oreopteris, Mountain Buckler Fern : not uncommon. Polypodium 

 vulgare, Common Polypody : this fern, well known as an occupant 

 of old walls, stumps and roots of trees, rocks and shady places, 

 abounds everywhere, clothing the edges of rocky prominences on 

 Carrock with a fringe of green foliage, which has a striking effect, 

 especially in the depth of winter. P. phegopteris, Beech Fern : 

 appears in shady and slightly-moist places in many parts of the 

 Valley ; it abounds in Denton Side woods. P. dryopteris, Oak 

 Fern : is a common inhabitant of rocky woods, especially in beds 

 of screes, where its slender wiry roots creep about in every direction; 

 the finest specimens occur in the vicinity of forces, though generally 

 speaking this species shows less affinity for moisture than the 

 Beech Fern. Ophioglossum vidgatum, Common Adder's-Tongue : 

 in upland meadows, where a cold clayey subsoil prevails, this 

 curious little plant is more frequent than is generally imagined ; 

 it springs late in the season, and dies down early; from the middle 

 of May to the beginning of June is the best season for observing 



