b'J bolton's woodsia. 



On the continent of Europe this fern has been observed in 

 Norway, Lapland, Sweden, European and Asiatic Eussia, Ger- 

 many, Hungary, Switzerland, France and Spain. I am not 

 aware of its occurrence in Africa, but in North America a 

 closely approximate species has been found on the Rocky 

 Mountains, which is, however, considered distinct by Dr. Ro- 

 bert Brown, who has described it under the name of Woodsia 

 glabella. 



In Great Britain its ascertained range seems restricted to 

 two Scotch and one Welch county. 



Perthshieb. — According to Smith and other authorities, Mr. Dickson, 

 Mr. G. Don, and the Rev. Dr. Stuart, found this plant on Ben Lawers. 

 Mr. Wilson informs me that he found it on Ben Lawers, Mael-dun-Crosk, 

 Craig-Challiach, and other mountains, in 1827, and again on Ben Lawers 

 in 1836 : Dr. Balfour found it again on Ben Lawers in 1847, (Phytol. iii. 

 81) ; Mr. Watson gives me Craig- Challiach, on the authority of Mr. 

 Maughan ; and, lastly, Mr. Johnstone informs me that he has beautiful 

 specimens gathered in August, 1853, on Ben Lawers, in the parish of 

 Kenmare. 



FoRFABSHiBE. — Dr. Balfour gathered this Uttie fern in Glen Fiadh in 

 1847, (Phytol. iii. 81). 



Ddmfbiesshibe ? — The Rev. Mr. Little thinks that Woodsia alpiaa 

 does not grow on the Moffat Hills ; Mr. Johnstone, on the contrary, tliinks 

 the form so designated does grow in that looaUty, and has obligingly sent 

 me a frond which certainly goes far to coiToborate this ophiion : but then, 

 he also expresses a doubt as to the distinctness of the two. His remarks 

 on this subject are as follow : — " You inquire whether both species of 

 Woodsia grow at the station on the Moffat HUls. I may answer that the 

 only differences that I can see between the supposed species, are that the 

 pmnfe of alpina are a little more rounded than those of Ilvensis usually are, 

 and that the stipes of Ilvensis is of a reddish brown colour, while that of alpina 

 is greener : in all other respects they are alike. They have the same scat- 

 tered roundish sori ; the same hairy and chaffy stipes and raohis ; and the 

 same lanceolate and pinnate fronds. Can the sUght differences I have no- 

 ticed constitute a species ? I think not. I have now before me more than 

 fifty fronds, and no two of them are alilie. I think that alpina may, with 

 all safety, be set down as a variety of Ilvensis, and not a very mai-ked one. 

 I have cultivated them for some years, and find them retain their peou- 



