442 Bibliographical Notices. 



serrated secondary lobes, with the lateral veins terminating at the 

 point, and the sori placed immediately under the cleft of the lobe, 

 not in its middle as in L. dilatata. 



Neither of our authors has ventured to place Newman's L. col- 

 Una in the rank of a species, to which we are inclined to believe that 

 it has strong claims. Its ovate obtuse pinnules, which are obtusely 

 mucronate- serrate and attached broadly at their base as in L. spinu- 

 losa, distinguish it from L. dilatata, with which it agrees in having 

 pointed scales on its stipes with a dark brown centre and diaphanous 

 margin. It does not accord with French specimens named as the 

 Polysticum tanacetifolimn of DeCandolle. 



Mr. Moore has distinguished three forms of Polysticum angulare 

 which had not been previously noticed ; we must refer to his book 

 for an account and figures of them. 



In the genus Cystopteris a very curious variety or monstrosity is 

 figured by Mr. Moore under the name of C. Dickieana (Sim). By 

 the kindness of Dr. Dickie of Aberdeen, its discoverer, " in two drip- 

 ping caves on the coast near Aberdeen," we have had an opportunity 

 of examining specimens of this curious plant, both wild and also 

 after two years of cultivation, during which time they have not un- 

 dergone any material alteration. It seems probable that the pecu- 

 liar broadness of frond of this plant may result from its place of 

 growth, and that it is nothing more than an abnormal state of C. den- 

 tata. The peculiarly broad ovate and entire pinnules of C. Dickieana 

 contrast most remarkably with the slender almost linear notched 

 pinnules of a variety of C. fragilis inhabiting a similar cave, situated 

 high up on one of the cliffs of Snowdon. 



We think that Mr. Moore is in error when he states that " in 

 Wales the variety dentata [C. dentata. Hook.] is the most abundant," 

 as we have never been able to find it in any part of that country : 

 all the Welsh plants that we have seen are states of C. fragilis ^ 

 under which we include the C. angustata (Sm.). Dr. Deakin has 

 given (pp. 84, 85) beautiful figures in illustration of C. fragilis, 

 under which he places C. dentata, and in addition characterizes as 

 varieties the C. cynapifolia (Roth), C. angustata (Sm.), and C. an- 

 thriscifolia (Roth). 



The Scottish C. dentata is in all probability a distinct species from 

 C. fragilis, under which we would place the other above-mentioned 

 plants. Its characters are well illustrated by Mr. Newman (Brit. 

 Ferns, p. 154), and it seems to have been found in the highlands of 

 Scotland alone, where it is by no means rare. 



Mr. Moore has acted wisely in naming and distinguishing as va- 

 rieties the two forms of Pteris aquilina, one of them having its lower 

 pinnules pinnatifid, whilst in the other they are quite entire. It is 

 singular that we should be unable to discover any previous notice of 

 this well-marked variation in the writings of other botanists, with 

 the exception of a cursory remark in Dr. Deakin's work. 



In conclusion, we have only to add, that we can conscientiously 

 recommend both these works to the favourable notice of our readers. 



