THE FLORA. 87 



Lady-fern (Asplenium Filix-famina). 

 Common Brake (Pteris Aquilina). 

 Northern Hard-fern (Blechnum boreale).. 

 Osmunda (Osmunda regalis). 

 Moonwort (Botrychbm Lunaria). 

 Adder's-tongue (Ophioglossum vulgatum). 



EQUISETACE.E. 



Three or four species of the very curious genus Equisetum 

 occur about Southport, especially at and beyond Birkdale 

 and Ainsdale, where, in the slacks among the sandhills, there 

 is great plenty, in particular, of the Equisetum palustre. The 

 very pretty little variegatum likewise occurs here. In cultivated 

 land, and in gardens as a troublesome weed, the arvense is 

 also well known; and in ponds may be found, at intervals, the 

 densely-crowded and reed-like limosum. 



LVCOPODIACE^E. 



One only of this remarkable order belongs to the South- 

 port flora, the very elegant little Lycopodium selaginoides, which 

 is met with occasionally upon the sandhills. The habitats of 

 the other British species are such as to render their existence 

 at Southport impossible. 



To the bryologist, as said above, Southport has many 

 attractions, though limited, as regards locality, to the sand- 

 hills. So much remains still to be done in the examination of 

 our local mosses, that no more than a very partial list could at 

 present be given. We consider it better, accordingly, to wait 



