MELVILL : LAKE PERNS. 



220 



P. Dry^pteris, L. (Oak Fern). This very delicate and beautiful fem, 

 occurs at Scawdale Beck, near Ambleside, Rydal Park, Fairfield, and other 

 places in Yf estmoreland, Keswick, abundant. Vale of Duddon, Lancashire, 

 &c., &c. 



P. calcareum, Sm. (Limestone Polypody). This, the P. RoheHianum 

 of Hoifman, occurs abundantly at Whitbarrow, Arnside Knot, and the lime- 

 stone country about Kendal. It is a very local species. 



Allosurus. 



A crisims, Bernh. (Parsley Fern, Eock Brakes). Extremely abundant 

 throughout the Lake district, growing often at extremely high elevations, such 

 as Scawfeil, where vegetation (with the exception of Festuca vivipara,) well- 

 nigh ceases. 



POLYSTICHUM. 



p. LoncMtis, Roth. (Holly Fern, Alpine Shield Fern). This plant, 

 though common in the Alpine parts of Scotland, is very rare here, indeed, 

 almost extinct. It is said to grow on the Deepdale Crags, Fairfield, West- 

 moreland, in places almost inaccessible. Its extirpation is mostly owing to 

 those pillagers of nature — tourists — who root up every plant they can find, 

 whether they want to keep them or not. Last year two of this class carried 

 a ladder over the Fairfield range, descended with it to Deepdale, and completely 

 extirpated this rare fern. Surely such proceedings as these should not be 

 tolerated, only it is hard to say what measures should be taken to put a stop 

 to such depredations. 



P. aculeatum, Roth., with both its vars. P. lohatum, and P. lonchiti- 

 oides, occurs in Scardale Beck, Westmoreland, and a few other places, not so 

 common in the north as in the south, apparently. 



P. angular e, ^Gwm, (Angular Shield Fern.) Loughrigg Fell, West- 

 moreland, in a wood on Nab Scar, Fairfield, &c. 



Lastrea. 



Z. Montana, Moore. This the Oreopteris or Sweet Mountain Fern, is 

 very abundant all ojrer the Lake district, and peculiarly luxuriant near that 

 beautiful waterfall, Stanley Ghyll. I found the variety L. truncata, on 

 Loughrigg Fell. There is a very good picture of this curious var. in Moore's 

 Nature Printed Ferns. 



Z. FiUx-mas, Presl. (Male Fern.) Abundant, as is also its var. 

 L. paleacea, or Borrer's Male Fern. Multifid varieties are not unfrequent 

 on Loughrigg Fell, Westmoreland. I found a variety similar to L. Schole- 



