364 



THE YOUNG NATUEALIST. 



thorax. When released they maintain a 

 horizontal position. If the specimen be set 

 upon a rough cork board, uncovered with 

 paper, the wings may- generally be moved into 

 the required posture without any fear of their 

 slipping back, and secured with stiff triangles. 

 Sometimes the posterior pair of wings prove 

 troublesome, constantly flying back and up- 

 wards. They may often be secured by gentry 

 pushing them under the anterior membranes, 

 to which they adhere by reason of the minute 

 bristles so plentifully sprinkled over their 

 surfaces. The legs and antennae may then 

 be secured by clamp pins. I have bred two 

 species of Ichneumonida from pupae of A. 

 grossulariata, and will send you a specimen 

 of one and a figure of the other, as only a 

 single individual of one kind emerged, if you 

 desire them ; also pupae of a parasite from H. 

 pisi. — C. H. H. Walker, Liverpool. Aug. 25, 

 1880. 



[We should be obliged for the parasites 

 named. — Eds.] 



Erratum. — In the last number of the Y. 

 N., (44,) there is an omission of aline in the 

 article on Conchology which destroys the 

 sense, and should be corrected. — In the 

 description of the Genus Planorbis it should 

 read, " The animal is small, with a pair of 

 long slender tentacles, the eyes are at the base 

 of the tentacles on the inner side." The words 

 in italics are omitted. 



BRITISH FERNS. 



By H. Andrews, Camberwell. 

 Genus 2, Allosurus. 



Dorsal-fruited-ferns, with the sori confluent 

 beneath the refluxed, unaltered margins of 

 the frond. Comprises Crispns only. 



AllosurUS Crispus (Parsley Fern).— 

 This elegant little plant is so called from its 

 resemblance to a tuft of parsley. The fronds 

 average from four to six inches, are triangular ' 

 in shape, with a long smooth stalk. It is cf a 

 pale green color, and twice or thrice pinnate. 

 The segment of the fertile fronds are oblong j 

 in form. The sori which are circular, are 



produced at the end of the forked venules, 

 which extend nearly to the margin. They 

 have no indusium. Fronds appear towards 

 the end of May. Found in mountains and 

 stcny situations. It is comparatively rare 

 and local. 



Sub-Gn up, Aspidicse 



Ferns whose sor; have special inducia, of a 

 circular form, and springing here and there, 

 from the back of the veins. 



Genus 3 Polystichum. 



Dorsal-fruited ferns, having circular peltate 

 inducia, attached by their centre, comprises, 

 Vvlgare, Angular e, a.nd Alpastre. 



Polyst. Vulgar e or S. aculeatum (com J 

 mon Prickl}' Shield Fern) . This common fern 

 grows from 2 to 4 feet high, in a circular 

 manner and takes a somewhat erect position. 

 The Texture is harsh and rigid, the upper sur- 

 face dark green and shining, and the stipes 

 densely scaly, fronds bipinnate, with alternate 

 pinna, and a series of pinnules. The pinnules! 

 are elongately-crescent-shaped, and margin 

 serrated. Veins are all branched and extend;?: 

 free to margin. Sori are crowded and arranged 

 in a parallel manner. The circular indusia 

 are attached by a st alk in its centre. Fronds 

 appear in April. Found in hedgerows, &c, 

 and is very common, There is one variety. 



Polyst. Annulare, (Soft Shield Fern) 

 is a strong growing tufted species. The 

 frc nds are lanceolate from 2 to 4 feet high, and 

 persistent through mild winters. The stipes 

 is from ^ to \ of the length of the frond, with 

 reddish scales. The fronds are bipinnate, 

 the pinnules crescent shaped, and the margin 

 spinulously serrate. Sori are numerous and 

 paralled to the rachis, covered by a peltate 

 scale. Fronds spr ng up in April. 



Polyst. Aug\ var. Proliferum, (or 

 D viperum,) is an elegant variety, and verj| 

 highly developed. The pinnules are nafli 

 rcwed, attenuated and lobed. This variety' 

 has the peculiarity of developing at its nodes 

 (on the upper surface of the frond) young 

 plants, and is therefore a viviperous plant. 

 Fronds appear in April. 



