734 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XIV. 



species varies a good deal, but not with the size of the frond. One frond I 

 collected in Simla in 1871, about 25 in. 1. by 8| in. br., is only bipinnatifid, 

 and the segments are non lobod — only slightly toothed. Another I got at 

 Mashobra (Simla Region) in 1886 — matched by a frond of Straohty and 

 Winterbottom's from Kumaua — may be said to be bipinnate, i.e., there is 

 hardly any wing to the secondary rhachis in the greater part of the frond, 

 though the pinnules are sessile with a decurrent base. The bipinnateness 

 decreases in the lower part of this frond, and is quite lost in the lower two 

 or three pairs of pimu^, as it is towards the tips of all. This frond is 28 in. 

 1. by 10 in. br., and lias a stipe 13 in. 1. The segments are distinctly lobed, 

 and the 8 — 10 lobes are toothed . The veins are distant, one to each lobe^ and 

 pinnate in the lobes. The sori of this specimen are uncharacteristically 

 small, — one at the base of each vein close to the midrib, except in the tips of 

 the pinnules. 



The scales of A''. Schimperiamim (the Indian plant) at base of stipes are 

 long, linear, in a dense mass ; higher up there are both large, broad, scales, 

 with fibril lose twisted tips, and very naiTow ones. All are always pale-brown, 

 transparent. The caudex is decumbent, and stipes tufted, but not densely so, 

 and spreading. The fern generally grows on steep ground, and is often rooted 

 in the clefts of rocks ; and the fronds droop more or less. 



I have seen quantities of N. ScMmperiamtm, N. marginatum, Wall., and 

 N. odontoJoma, Moore, growing together, near Landour, but never the slightest 

 passage from oue to the other. 



Dr. Christ, who has compared Indian specimens of this fern with specimens 

 of Aspidium Schimpermmm in his own herbarium, collected by Schimper in 

 Abyssinia, considers it imprudent to identify them, seeing that the type plant 

 is markedly bipinnate, and has a large deltoid frond. The type specimens in 

 Kew, from Abyssinia, are wider below, and more compound, than any Indian 

 ones. 



18. N. COohleatum, Bon (nndav Aspidium). N, {Lastrea) Filix-mas, 

 Rich., y N. cochleafum, Don, Syn. Fil. 272. iV. eochleatum, Don (under 

 Aspidium), 0. R. 521. Lastrea Filix-mas, L., vnr. s eochleatum, Don, Bedd. 

 H. B. 250. Plate XXX. 



Punjab ; Ckamha — McDonell ; Kangra Valley Dist. E 4000', Trotter ; Simla, 

 Reg — Simla. 



N.-W. P.: D. D. Hist.— in the Diin (Valley) 1,550' to 3150', very common, and 

 (abundant in places ; T, Oarh. 4-5000', Duthie, Hope ; Sahdranpvr Dist. — Siwalik 

 Range, on south side, MacLeod ; B. Garh. Mrs. Fisher ; KiKmavn, S. & W., Hope 

 Davidson, Duthie, 25-6000'. 



DiSTRiB. — A-tia : N. Ind. from Oudh to Bhotan ; Assam — Khasia ; Bengal— Chitta- 

 gong, and Parasnath Mt., up to 4000', very common. Burma — Ava. Malay Penina. 

 Clarke in Rev.). S. luri.— Western Mts., 24000' (_Bedd. in H. B,). 



