98 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



where it grows at 15,000ft. elevation ; it occurs also on the mountains of 

 Abyssinia and Fernando Po ; in South Africa ; in New Zealand, Tasmania, 

 and the Sandwich Islands, where it is often spoken of as C. tasmanica and 

 C. smidwicensis, and in some parts of South America. In North America, 

 where it is known as the "Brittle Fern," Eaton tells us that it is found 

 growing in crevices of shaded rocks and among stones, less commonly at the 

 bases of trees, or in earth along rivulets, from Arctic America to Tierra del 

 Fuego, and adds that it is one of the most universally -distributed of Ferns. It 

 is, however, as a British Fern that the Brittle Bladder Fern is most interesting. 

 It was first mentioned as a native of Britain, in 1696, in the second edition of 



(nat. size). 



his " Synopsis Methodica Stirpium Britamiicarum," by Ray, who there calls 

 it Filix samtilis caule tenui fragile^ or Fine-cut Stone Fern, with slender and 

 brittle stalks. It flourishes in mountainous districts, especially on old walls 

 and chalky, damp, shaded rocks. It has been found growing plentifully at 

 Richmond and Settle, in Yorkshire ; near Buxton and Matlock, in Derbyshire ; 

 at Cheddar, in Somersetshire ; near Hyde, in Gloucestershire ; near Bristol ; 

 at Exwick, near Exeter, and in numerous other places in England. The 

 Brittle Fern is also a native of Ireland, being found in Kerry, at Lough Inn, 

 and at Lough Derryclare, Connemara. In Wales it has frequently been 

 gathered in a cave at Clogwyn Coch, Snowdon ; on rocks above Cwm Idwell ; 



