MELVILL : LAKE FERNS. 



231 



A. Trichornams, L. (Wall Spleen wort.) Everywhere abundant ; 

 covering every wall, and found in most of tlie crevices on tlie mountains. 

 Several varieties are, I believe, to be found in tbe district. 



A. Adiantum-nigrum. (Black Spleenwort.) This is more frequently 

 found in the small obtuse state, (var. oMasatum.) But the normal state does 

 occur, as well. 



Ceterach. 



C. qfficinarum, Willd. (Scaly Spleenwort.) Not very common at 

 Whitbarrow, and the other limestone Screes. 



SCOLOPENDRIUM. 



;S^. vulgare, Sym. (Common Hart's Tongue.) This fern, is not quite 

 so frequent here as might be expected, I myself saw it at Whitbarrow, (a 

 multifid variety), and at Furness Abbey. 



Blechnum. 



B. spicant, Eoth. (Common Hard Fern). Very common. A multifid 

 variety was found at Rydal Park. The variety anomalum, in which 

 the barren fronds become fertile, occurs all along the mountain stream that 

 runs from Loughrigg Fell to Grasmere Lake. The rare variety caudatiim 

 I found on Fairfield, and the varieties crispum and crassicaule, on Bowfell, 

 Cumberland. 



Pteris. 



P. aquilina. L. (Brake.) Abundant. In a wood under ISTab Scar, I 

 found the variety P. crispa. 



Cystopteris. 



C. fragilis, Bernh. (Brittle Bladder Fern.) Kot unfrequent ; Helm 

 Crag, Grasmere, Fairfield, very luxuriant. Whitbarrow, a crisp form, and 

 variety dentata, Eosset Ghyll, Bo^vfell, Cumberland, &c. Of the variety 

 angustata, I found one plant of on Loughrigg Fell. 



WOODSIA. 



W. ilvensis, E. Br. (Oblong Woodsia). Extremely rare. It is already 

 stated in Moore's Nature Printed Ferns, that Mr. F. Clowes discovered it in 

 three distinct station^ in the Lake district ; my friend Mr. J. Thornton after 

 long search found one plant near Helvellyn, on August 25th. 



H YMENOPH YLLU M. 



H. Wilsoni, Hook. (Wilson's Filmy Fern.) Common. Eydall Head, 

 Loughrigg Fell, Langdale, (fee, Westmoreland. Eosset Ghyll, BowieU, &c., 

 Cumberland. H. Tunhrigense, Sm., occurs in the district. I did not how- 

 ever find it. 



