TRUE MAIDENHAIR. 
85 
Scotland. — In Lightfoot’s ‘ Flora Scotica’ we find this re- 
cord : — “ Dr. Sibthorpe, the present most obliging Professor of 
Botany, at Oxford, favored me with the sight of a large and per- 
fect specimen of this fern, in the copious herbarium preserved at 
the Physic garden in that university, to which specimen a label 
was annexed, with this inscription, ‘ From the isle of Arran, 
near Galloway, from Mr. Stonestreet.’ The specimen is to be 
found among the ferns. — Lih. 3, p, 3, f. 3.”^ This statement 
is now universally believed to be an error, and to refer to the 
isles of Arran near Galway, on the west coast of Ireland. The 
banks of the Carron, a rivulet in Kincardineshire,” on the au- 
thority of Professor Beattie, as recorded by Sir W. J. Hooker, 
is another station that requires to be verified. 
Ireland. — I am indebted to Mr. Mackay, of the College Bo- 
tanic Garden, for a specimen from the south isles of Arran, 
where he found it in profusion ; and Mr. P. Ball, of Dublin, 
informs me it is so abundant in this locality, that the poor in- 
habitants use a decoction of its leaves instead of tea. Mr. W. 
Andrew’s found it sparingly on the Cahir Conree mountain, near 
Tralee ; and Mr. J. M’Calla, a most industrious and praise- 
worthy young botanist, residing at Roundstone, in Cunnemara, 
found a few’ plants at the foot of a rock facing south-west, on 
the banks of Lough Bulard, near Urrisbeg. 
The geographical range of the species is very wide, extending 
over the middle and south of Europe, Asia, the north of Africa, 
the Canary and Cape de Verd Islands; and forms so similar as 
scarcely to admit a doubt of their identity, occur in nearly every 
tropical or temperate country yet visited by botanists. 
The figures designed for this plant are for the most part very 
characteristic : that in Gerarde,f as quoted by Sir J. E. Smith, 
must, however, be excepted, and I cannot avoid entertaining a 
doubt as to the fern intended. 
Sir J. E. Smith has a remark upon the uses of a species of 
Adiantum^ which must be received with great caution : the pas- 
sage is as follows. — One species of this genus, A. pedatum, is 
principally used in the south of France to make a syrup, which, 
* Lig’liif. Flora Scotica ii. 07f). 
f Gcr. Em. 1 143. 
