THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



365 



Polyst. Aug-. Var. Cristatum is 



another variety of great beauty; the points of the 

 fronds, and of the pinnse are expanded into 

 tassel-like tufts. Found growing in hedge- 

 banks and woods. There are twelve other 

 varieties. 



Polyst. Alpestre (or P. Lonchitis) Holly 

 Fern is a rigid and prickly-looking species, with 

 a tufted, scaly stem, and grows from 6 to 12 

 inches in length. The fronds are linear- 

 lanceolate and pinnate. The pinnze are 

 crescent-shaped, the upper side having at the 

 base an ear-like projection (auricle). Margin 

 is serrated. Sori are parallel on each side 

 of midrib. Fronds spring tip in April. 

 Found on the bleak mountains of Scotland 

 and in Ireland, in Wales, and the north of 

 England. 



Genns 4, Lastreae. 



Dorsal-fruited ferns, having reniform, 

 indusia attached by their indented side. 

 Comprises Thelypteris, Monatcim, Rigida, 

 Dilutata, Triangula, Cristdta, and Filix-mas. 



Last. Thelypteris (Marsh Buckler 

 Fern.) It has a slender creeping stem, smooth, 

 and dark in color. It usually grow s 1 ft. high. 

 The fronds are pale green, lanceolate, pin- 

 nate, with rounded lobes. The venation 

 is usually forked, and each bear a sorus 

 between the margin and midvein. The sori 

 have a thin shapeless indusiurh". Fronds 

 appear in May. Found in marshy and boggy 

 places, and is generally distributed. 



Last. Montana (Mountain Buckler 

 Fern). — This Fern is a very elegant species, 

 which grows in a circular manner from i-J to 

 i\ ft. high. The fronds are lanceolate, pin- 

 nate, and erect. The stipes is very short, and 

 the pinnas tapered in such a manner as to 

 represent the form of a shuttlecock. The 

 pinnas are narrow, tapering and pinnatified. 

 The sori are borne in clusters near the 

 extremities of the branched midveins, and are 

 very numerous. Fronds appear early in 

 May. Found profusely on mountain sides, 

 and in woods. 



Last. Rigida (-Rigid Buckler Fern). — 



This elegant fern grows "from 1 to i£ ft. high, 

 and usually in an upright or spreading 

 manner. The fronds are narrowly triangular 

 and bipirinate, with tapering. pinnae and blunt 

 pinnules, the segments being surrounded with 

 pointed tulk. The stipes are thickly covered 

 with scales. The sori are borne on the lowest 

 anterior branch of the venules. The fronds 

 are covered with a number of small sessile 

 glands. Found on trfe limestone ranges of 

 Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Westmorland. 

 (Tobe'cominued.) 



HUDDERSFIELD 

 NATURALISTS' SOCIETY. 



The Sixth Grand Exhibition of this Society 

 was opened in the Victoria Hall, Hudders- 

 field, on September 2nd, by C. P. Hobkirk 

 F.L.S., (Editor of the Naturalist.) 



The large room of the hall is spacious, and 

 well adapted for an exhibition of this char- 

 acter. The exhibits comprise specimens in 

 almost every branch of Natural History 

 though the birds by far predominate in point 

 of numbers. Among these may be mentioned 

 the somewhat extensive collection belonging 

 to Mr. James Varley, which comprise some 

 very rare and beautiful specimens of the 

 Falconidce, also a very complete collection of 

 sandbirds, Dunlins, Sandpipers, .Plovers, &c. 

 There is a very fine male specimen of the 

 Great Bustard, a bird very seldom seen in 

 Britain now, belonging to Mr. Alderman 

 Woodhead, and a series of very extraordinary 

 varieties lent by Alfred Beaumont, Esq., 

 amongst which may be mentioned a pure 

 white specimen of the Ring Dove, White 

 Linnet, Pied Starling, &c, and a pair of Pied 

 Blackbirds sent by another exhibitor. Alto- 

 gether there are 990 cases of birds and 

 mammals. There is a collection of birds' 

 eggs, lent by Mr. George Liversidge. A- very 

 fine collection of lizards, serpents, &c, chiefly 

 exotic, in spirits, belonging to Dr. Ledger 

 Erson and Mr. C. F. Oakley are well worth 

 inspection. In insects there is a collection 



