WOODSIA ALPINA. 83 



liarities. The glens in whioh the Woodsias occur ran exactly North and 

 South, and consequently face East and West ; the Woodsias almost inva- 

 riably occur with a West exposure." I must also add, in contravention of 

 Mr. Johnstone's opinion, a remark of Mr. Wollaston, which is verified by 

 the observation of Mr. Backhouse, jun., that Woodsia Ilvensis occasionally 

 produces fronds hke those of W. alpina ; and therefore, the fact that such 

 fronds occur on the Moffat Hills, does not necessarily prove the identity of 

 the two species. 



Oaebnabvonshibe. — This fern was found by Mr. Wilson on Clogwyn- 

 y-Garnedh, one cf the precipices of Snowdon which faces the East, as 

 observed by that botanist, on whose authority Smith corrected a supposed 

 error of Eay and others, who describe the precipice as facing the North- 

 west. Mr. Wilson's habitat, as well as the aspect of that habitat, is abun- 

 dantly confirmed below ; but another botanist, who wishes to remain ano- 

 nymous, confirms Ray's description as well. He says, " You are wrong in 

 accepting Wilson's alteration of the aspect of Ray's habitat. Woodsia 

 grows abundantly on these precipices, facing both the East and the North- 

 west; the name of Clogwyn-y-Garnedh applies equally to both aspects, and 

 as to the species, I cannot say which : are there really two ? " I should 

 not quote a writer who chooses to remam anonymous, but that I feel a real 

 pleasure in confirming any statement of our immortal Ray, and I know 

 that my correspondent's statement is to be relied on. Mr. Latimer Clark, 

 whose engagements in connexion with the building of the tubular bridge 

 over the Menai detained him for months in the Snowdon district, found 

 this fern in two localities. He says, " Woodsia alpina grows in that vast 

 chasm called Clogwyn-y-Gamedh, which forms the eastern precipice of 

 Snowdon. It occurs on some almost inaccessible rocks facing the East, 

 above the lake called Glas Llyu : the rock is of a pecuhar character, unhke 

 other rocks in the neighbourhood, and resembles hmestone : the ledges on 

 which the fern grows cannot be reached without great danger, and many of 

 them are perfectly inaccessible, so that there is no danger of its eradication. 

 The same rock crops out in the Pass of Llanberis, facing the North, on the 

 Snowdon side of the Pass, and here it is again accompanied by Woodsia 

 alpina, but most of the ledges where it gi-ows are of an equally unapproach- 

 able character." In August, 1853, Mr George Maw visited this Llanberis 

 Pass locality, and brought away some very beautiful specimens, which he 

 has most kindly shown me : the rock on which they occur is called Moel 

 Sichog ; it is on the right or Snowdon side of the Pass, going from Llan- 

 beris towards Capel Cerig. 



I cannot conclude this notice of habitats without expressing 

 my warmest thanks to the gentlemen who have so kindly and 

 readily responded to all my inquiries. 



