ClYMNOCAEPIUM ROBERTIANUM. 07 



and pictorial representation in Francis's ' Analysis ' (pi. 1, fig. 

 5), is certainly drawn from Dryopteris. 



Our acquisition of precise knowledge of the geographical 

 range of this species is greatly retarded by the incapacity or 

 disinclination of botanists to distinguish between Gymnocar- 

 pium Dryopteris and G. Robertianum. Sadler gives it as a 

 native of Hungary, Germany and France. Through the kind- 

 ness of Mr. Allcard, I possess fronds from several localities 

 in Switzerland ; and Godet says that it is abundant on old 

 walls and bare rocks in the Jura, especially in the mountainous 

 regions. I have little doubt of its being generally scattered 

 over the continents of Europe and America : I possess a spe- 

 cimen from the United States. 



In Great Britain this fern seems confined to the limestone 

 districts, making itself particularly at home amidst the debris 

 of limestone quarries. Its distribution I should describe as 

 geological rather than geographical, and quite independent of 

 latitudinal or altitudinal conditions. 



In the North of England it has been found in Durham, and occurs 

 abundantly in Cumberland, Westmoreland, Yorkshire, and Lancasldre. 

 In Derbyshire, I am informed by the Kev. Mr. Pinder that it occurs plen- 

 tifully at Matlock, and by Dr. Wood near Buxton : many other botanists 

 confirm these localities. A cluster of counties further South, — Oxford- 

 shire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Somersetshire, — also produce this 

 species ; Oxfordshire and WUtsloire somewhat sparingly, the others abun- 

 dantly : my nephew, Henry Newman, has obUgingly given me specimens 

 from five different stations near the town of Chencester, and the Cotteswold 

 Hills, in the same district, have a great number of localities recorded on 

 the best authorities. 



Wales. — From the Welch localities I incline to omit that of Cwm Id- 

 well, in Caernarvonshh-e ; while that of Llanferris, in Denbighshire, on the 

 authority of Miss Potts, and from which, through the kiadness of Mr. Kip- 

 pist, I possess specimens, and that of Merthyr Tydfil, on the authority of 

 Mr. Babington, must be retained. 



Scotland and Ibeland have hitherto furnished no localities. 



