THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



889 



iSo Falkner Street. Liverpool. 



[The specimens sent from pupae of A. gross- 

 ulariata are Ichneumon tfilineatus, Gmel. That 

 marked B has all the joints of legs quite black. 

 In that marked A the}' are dark reddish brown. 

 This species variesconsiderably both in the col- 

 or of the legs and the abdomen. We had it sent 

 ms some time ago by Mr. H.M. Paris, of Taun- 

 ton, also from pupa of A . grossulariata. The 

 drawing Mr. Walker, sends us is most beautiful- 

 ly finished, we wish all our readers could see it. 

 The specimens from pisi we cannot name at 

 present. — Eds. Y. N.~\ 



BRITISH FERNS. 



By H. Andrews, Aldborough. 



Sub-Group 3, Woodsiea. 

 Ferns whose sori have involucriform 

 indusia, roundish, and springing from the 

 veins. 



Genus 13, Woodsia. 

 Dorsal-fruited ferns, having the indusia 

 attached beneath the sori, and divided at the 

 margin into hair-like segments. Comprises 

 Ilvensis and Alpina, 



Woodsia Ilvensia (Oblong Woodsia). 



—This is a diciduous fern which forms tufted 

 masses, and grows 3 to 4 inches high. They 

 are lanceolate and pinnate, the pinna set in 

 pairs, obtusely -oblong, with pinnatifid mar- 

 gin. Stipes is scaly, and has a joint at a short 

 distance from its base. Venation indistinct. 

 Sori are produced towards the margin . Found 

 on high mountains and moist rocks. It is 

 rare. 



Woodsia Alpina (Alpine Woodsia).— 

 This is a smaller plant than the last, never 

 exceeding a few inches in height. It grows in 

 a tufted manner, the fronds are longish and 

 narrow, pinna roundish, midvein distinct. 

 Stipes is scaly and jointed. Sori evenly dis- 

 tributed. Found in same situations as the 

 preceeding species. It is also rare. 



Sub-Group 9, Hymenophylleae. 

 Ferns whose sori are produced on the ends 



of veins projecting from the margin, and 

 surrounded by urceolate membranes. 



Genus 14, Trichomanes. 

 Marginal-fruited ferns, having the sori 

 ' surrounded by urceolare expansions of the 

 I frauds. Comprises Radiums only. 



Trichomanes Eadicans (Bristle 



Fern). — This beautiful fern has a creeping 

 and wiry stem. Clothed with scales. Fronds 

 are ovate-lanceolate in shape, and consist of 

 a series of branched rigid veins, margined by 

 a thin, cellular expansion, with a number of 

 the apices surrounded by cellular membranes 

 of an urceolate form, bearing the sori. Found 

 amongst dripping rocks, and said to exist only 

 in Ireland. There is one variety, but it is rare. 



Genus 15, Hymenophyllum. 



Marginal-fruited ferns, having sori sur- 

 rounded by urceolate expansions of the frond. 

 Comprises Oupressiforme and Uniluterale. 



Hymenophyllum Oupressiforme. 



— It grows in matted tufts, the black creeping 

 stems being entangled together. Fronds are 

 from 3 to 6 inches long, erect, of a dull-green 

 ■ color, and semitransparent. They are lance- 

 [ olate-ovate and pinnate, and the pinna? 

 pinnatifid. Sporangia are produced around 

 the axis of a vein, which is continued beyond 

 j the margin of the fronds. Found on damp 

 J rocks and moist districts. It is widely dis- 

 tributed. 



Hymenophyllum TJnilaterale is a 



small moss-like plant, with creeping stems, 

 growing in dense tufts, and producing fronds 

 from 3 to 4 inches in height. They are 

 linear-lanceolate in form and pinnate, the 

 rachis is curved, pinnae convex, lobes linear- 

 obtuse, with serrate m irgin. Venation is 

 very distinct. Sori are limited, being 

 collected around the ends of veins. Found 

 in similar situations to the preceeding. It is 

 widely distributed and ijiore common. 



Group II, Osnundacea. 

 This group consists of ferns having cir- 

 cinate fronds, the spore-cases destitute of 

 an elastic ring, and bursting vertically by 



