60 NATURAL HISTOID SOCIETY OF DUBLIN. 



There can be no doubt about the species of the plant ; but it appears 

 to me to bo a most interesting and distinct variety, the upper pinnules 

 somewhat resembling both in form and texture those of A. Germanicum. 

 I think the name attenuatum would be very suitable for it, if it be 

 worthy of a name. 



When lately showing some curious varieties of Ferns (Scolopendrium, 

 &c.) to an eminent botanist, he hardly condescended to look at them, 

 and observed that ■" Gardeners thought a good deal of such things" — 

 meaning, I suppose, that they were beneath the notice of a scientific man. 

 I must say I cannot see why the variation of species, whether animal or 

 vegetable, should be less worthy of the attention of a naturalist than 

 the other phenomena presented to his view in Nature's extensive 

 domains. 



I may take this opportunity of recording three new stations for 

 Cystopteris fragilis — 1st, on the side of an old road, two miles south- 

 west of Ballinasloe ; 3rd, near Lissenisky, four miles south of Knock- 

 croghery, county of Eoscommon ; 3rd, one mile and a half E. S. E. of 

 Brideswell, and five miles "W.N. W. of Athlone, county of Eoscommon. 



The President believed that the peculiar forms of Asplenium Ruta- 

 muraria found by Mr. Foot were not uncommon in parts of Burren, in 

 the county of Clare, and particularly in the middle Arran Island. No 

 plants presented such varied forms as those of the species Trichomanes, 

 Rata-muraria, and Adiantum-nigrum. Newman figures a very singular 

 variety of Asplenium Trichomanes, with deeply incised pinnules, found 

 near Burnley, in Lancashire. In the south-west of Ireland a number 

 of forms have been detected, through all gradations, to those identical 

 with Asplenium acutum and A. anceps of Madeira. A very beautiful 

 variety of Asplenium Trichomanes, with form of pinnules and fructifica- 

 tion approaching to A . Ruta-muraria, was recently found by Lady Cler- 

 mont, at Eavensdale Park. 



Mr. Archer, referring to Mr. Foot's record of the stations for Cysto- 

 pteris fragilis in the county of Eoscommon, supposed that this Fern may be 

 found to be more widely distributed in Ireland than had been supposed. 

 Mr. Archer had recorded it as occurring in the county of Wicklow, near 

 Maulin Mountain, at the meeting of the Society on the 21st of November 

 last. He would now take the opportunity to record, as occurring in the 

 same locality, another Fern rare in Ireland — Polypodium Phegopteris 

 (Linn.). It would be interesting to botanists to know, that, although 

 nearly, if not quite extinguished at Powerscourt Waterfall, this beautiful 

 plant still existed in the neighbourhood of Dublin. 



Mr. Dixon exhibited fresh fronds of both these Ferns, obtained from 

 this station, which he had now growing healthfully and beautifully in 

 his fern- case. 



