144 HISTORY OF BRITISH FERNS. 



old wall at Tooting, a wall near Petersfield, and rocks near 

 Stonehaven. Bearing in mind the circumstantial records 

 of its discovery by the older botanists, and considering that 

 it is a very small plant, and that the places where it would 

 be most likely to occur are generally the most inaccessible, 

 and, therefore, the least likely to be searched, — consider- 

 ing, moreover, the many probable localities which exist, 

 and have not been carefully explored by any keen botanical 

 eye, it is a fair presumption that the plant is really indi- 

 genous, though, from these causes, it has been overlooked. 

 While so many probabilities exist in favour of its being 

 native, we are not justified in rejecting the statements 

 which the older botanists have left us. 



This species is too rare to be often trusted on rockwork, 

 unless w^ere every provision, such as shade, shelter, and 

 moisture, has been made for it ; but planted in a well- 

 drained pot, and kept in a close cold frame, or in a damp 

 hothouse, it grows freely, becoming much more vigorous 

 under the influence of heat. 



The other names which have been given to this Fern 

 are these: — Aspidium fontanum, Athjrium fontaniim, 

 Polypodlum fontanum, and Aspidmm Halleri. 



