DTTBinf NATUEAL DTSTOBT SOCTETT, 7 



L. dilatata — Ditto, ditto. The form of this fern varies considerably 

 with the situation. 



L. recurva (Bree's Fern). — This graceful fern grows in quantities in 

 almost every ravine in the coal-measure formation. It seems to prefer 

 shady places, but it may often be met with on the most exposed bogs. 



Polystichum lolatum. — Localities — Edenvale, Lisdoonvarna. Evi- 

 dently preferring shady places. 



P. angulare. — Ditto, ditto. — In a little glen north of Smith's Bridge, 

 near Killadysart, I met with a striking variety of P. angulare. I only 

 could find one plant, which I immediately forwarded to my father, 

 Simon Foot, Esq., Dublin. He paid a good deal of attention to its ha- 

 bits and manner of growth, and observed two interesting facts respecting 

 it, which at once distinguish it from the variety P. angiistatum of 

 K'ewman and others. First, the Fern in question, besides being lar- 

 ger than and having the rachis stouter and more scaly than Angustatum, 

 spreads its fronds out horizontally, while Angustatum grows erect. 

 Second, the former has bulbillse in the axils of the pirmae, and is, con- 

 sequently, a viviparous plant. My father tells me that in Lowe's book 

 on Ferns he finds a variety named Proliferum (WoUaston), found at 

 "Wimbledon, and other places in England, by Mr. WoUaston, bearing 

 bulbils at the point of junction of the pinnae with the rachis, and, occa- 

 sionally, in the axils of the pinnules ; pinnules tripinnate, narrow and 

 attenuated and conspicuously stalked, deeply cleft, and lobes widely se- 

 parated ; this is the Angustatum of collectors. A portion of a frond is 

 figured in Lowe, exactly like the variety now described, but it does not 

 show the bulbs. Plants in the Glasnevin Botanical Gardens, apparently 

 identical with mine, and also having bulbs, are named Discretum. 

 Dried fronds of this variety may be seen on the table, as also of a plant 

 found by my father, some years ago, at Holly Park, county of Dublin, 

 which is probably Angustatum. 



Cystopteris fragilis. — Localities — Kilcomy, Blackhead, barony of 

 Burren. Cleft in limestone rocks, Corrin Hill, west of Ennis. Eoadside, 

 half a mile north-east of Marble Hill, Tulla. I believe the luxuriant 

 growth of C. fragilis in Burren is pretty well known already. In the 

 spring of the year, at Kilcorny, the contrast formed by the peculiar green 

 and delicate texture of this graceful fern, with the bright colours of Gen- 

 tiana verna and Geranium sanguineum, is truly beautiful, while, not far 

 off, on the north side of the valley, the rocks are covered with Dry as 

 octopetala. Indeed, the stranger does not require a botanical eye to see 

 that in Burren he has come upon a peculiar and remarkable Flora. The 

 cleft in the rocks at Corrin Hill is a dark and damp place, which causes 

 the ferns to assume a long attenuated form, very different from the Bur- 

 ren plants ; however, when planted together, they soon become undis- 

 tinguishable. I also found C. fragilis growing sparingly on the road- 

 side near Marble HiU, TuUa. 



Asplenium adiantum-nigrum. — General. 



A. marinum. — Localities — Aylevaroo, Kilrush, sea-shore generally ; 

 Mutton Island, Ballynalackan, road-side between Lisdoonvarna and 



