1903-1904.] 213 



long narrow strap at one end of the scale, and a round ball of 

 moss at the other, constitute the extremes of form assumed. 

 These variations having been obtained, it is found that they 

 are governed by laws, and that in these variations there is a 

 similarity of forms running through all the species of ferns, 

 and that they come true to their parent plant. The following 

 list will show some of the generally accepted sub-divisions of 

 discoveries hitherto made in the most important species : — 

 Plumose and frondose, divided and decomposite, imbricate 

 and orispate, lax and flexuose, deltoid and brachiate, 

 cruciate, interrupted and deficient, crested and ramose, 

 &c. By way of illustration let us take the four species 

 in which alone all these marked characters have as yet 

 been known to occur. These four are Polystichum angularey 

 Folyyodium vulgare, Athyrium fHix-foemina, and Blechnum 

 spicant. PolysticJium angulare is the species in which, on the 

 whole, these characters have appeared in the greatest variety, 

 and undoubtedly, with the exception of the cruciate class, 

 they have been developed to the greatest perfection. 



The paper was illustrated by a number of fresh fronds 

 from the writer's large collection. 



Mr. R. "Welch spoke of the luxuriant growth of Scolopen- 

 drium vulgare at Ben Bulben, and Messrs. A. Milligan and 

 W. Gray also criticised the paper. Mr. Phillips, in his reply, 

 mentioned that many interesting crispvm and marginatum 

 varieties of the Scolopendrium had been found in Co. Sligo in 

 the neighbourhood of Ben Bulben. 



Mrs. B. Hobson then read a paper entitled '' Some 

 Souterrains in Antrim and Down," in which there was a 

 description of a large number she had visited — some at 

 Tyrella and Cloughey, in County Down, and others near 

 Antrim, and in the districts round Connor and Glenan, 

 besides two or three near Belfast. The paper was illustrated 

 by lantern slides, a number of which were kindly lent by Mr. 

 Fennell, Mr. Welch, and Mr. W. A. Green— the latter gentle- 

 man having prepared a few for the occasion. The writer 

 herself had measured and made sketches of quite a number. 



