THE YOUNG- NATURALIST. 



849 



Larva. — We never saw the larva, which 

 is rarely met with, and the figures of it that 

 we have seen differ immensely. We believe 

 the following description will be found about 

 correct. It is compiled from several sources. 

 Grey, so thickly marbled wi:h black, that the 

 ground color is scarcely visible, except be- 

 tween the segments. Dorsal line yellow, 

 with a narrow black line down the middle. 

 Spiracular line grey, spiracles black, with 

 grey margins, au orange red blotch below 

 each, bordering in a thin yellowish line. 

 Belly and claspen black. Six rows of black 

 branched spines. 



Pupa. — Shining blackish brown, with 

 paler markings ; it is very much curved in 

 outline. 



Pood Plants- — Dog violet and sweet 

 violet (Viola canina and odorata.) 



Times of Appearance. — This species 

 appears at about the same times in its various 

 states as the two preceding. The imago may 

 be found on the wihg in July and August, 

 when the egg is laid. The young larva lives 

 over the winter, and feeds up in spring. The 

 pupa has been found in June. 



Habitat. — We consider this the com- 

 monest of our large Fnttilaries, though Mr. 

 Newman thinks Paphm of more frequent 

 occurrence. Aglaia frequents open places in 

 brake-woods, and especially covered hill sides. 

 But it is not altogether a wood insect, and 

 may often be found on sandhills near the sea. 

 Abroad it ranges over the whole of Europe 

 and Northern Asia. 



Variation-— Like Adippe this species 

 varies by the enlargement and coalescing of 

 the black spots. The only variety of note 

 that we have seen of this species is in our own 

 collection. It is dark on the upper side, 

 and the spots running into each other. 

 Only one variety has been named, Charlotte, 

 Haw., so called after Queen Charlotte, the 

 wife of George the Third. It is not generally 

 recognised as a distinct form, and we would 

 not have referred to it here, but that it is 

 given in Kirby's Synonymic Catalogue. It 



differs from the type by having some of the 

 I silvery spots near the base much larger, two 

 pairs of them coalescing. 



Parasites- — None known to us. 



BRITISH FERNS. 



By H. Andrews, Camberwell. 



Ferns are divided into three groups, which 

 are called Polypodiacea, Qsmundacig, and 

 Ophioglossacee. 



Group r, Polypodiaceae. 



This group of ferns consists of fronds which 

 are rolled up in a circinate manner when 

 young, and of spore-cases surrounded by a 

 ring, which bursts transversely. Comprises 

 Polypodiea, Aspidiea, AspUnied, Blcchnea, 

 Pteridea, Adiantea, Cystopteridea, IVoodsiea, and 

 H\ menophyllea. 



Sub-Group i, Polypodiea. 

 Ferns whose round clusters of spore-cases 

 have no indusium. 



Genus r, Polypodium. 

 I Dorsal-fruited with uncovered sori, com- 

 prises vulgar e, phegop&ris, dryopteris, calcarium, 

 \ and A Ipinum. 



Poly. VUlg'are (common Polypody], 

 grows with a creeping stem, covered with 

 ; pale brown scales. From the upper part of 

 j the stem grow the fronds, and from the under 

 \ grow the fibrous roots. The frond measures 

 from six to eight inches long, is lanceolate in 

 shape, and is divided from the margin nearly 

 j to the midrib or rachis, which is called pinna- 

 | tifid. The stipes or stalk is nearly the same 

 length as the leafy portion. The segments, 

 or lobes of the frond, are oblong in shape, 

 and rounded at the end. Sori are very 

 j numerous. Fronds appear towards the end 

 ] of May. It is evergreen, and grows abun- 



and 



: 



i dandy on mossy banks, moist 

 walls. 



Poly, vulg 1 . var. Cambricum (Welsh 



i Polypody) is an elegant variety of which the 

 ! lobes of the frond are broader, deeply and 



