150 
ASPIDIACE.E. 
in the fissures of rocks or the interstices of stone walls, parti- 
cularly, but not exclusively, in limestone districts. They are 
plants of diminutive size, of erect but elegant form, and of a 
remarkably brittle nature, whence the excellent specific name 
of fragilis. The localities are far too numerous for me to detail, 
but an idea of the distribution of the species may be gleaned 
from the following summary, in which I have taken no notice of 
the various names by which botanists have inclined to call it. 
Lists of the ferns of the undermentioned English and Welch 
counties, drawn up by competent botanists, have been kindly 
transmitted to me, or have come under my notice, and the fern 
now under consideration is absent from all of them. 
Leicestershire 
Lincolnshire 
Middlesex 
Norfolk 
N orthamptonshire 
Oxfordshire 
Pembrokeshire 
Sussex. 
Bedfordshire 
Berkshire 
Buckinghamshire 
Cambridgeshire 
Cornwall 
Dorsetshire 
Hampshire 
Hertfordshire 
Kent 
In the following counties it appears to occur very sparingly, 
and only on old buildings and walls. 
Cheshire. — Rostherne church, Mr. Wilson. 
Devonshire. — Enwick, near Exeter, Mr. Jacob. 
Essex. — Layton, Mr. T. F. Forster. It will be seen, on referring 
to Smith’s description of Cystea regia, that he makes the Layton 
plant identical with others found on Snowdon by Mr. Wilson, at 
Cwm Idwell by Mr. Griffith, and on Ben Lawers by Mr. Maughan. 
Herefordshire. — Downton, Mr. Lees. 
Nottingham. — Oxton and Bulwell churches, Mr. Sidebotham. 
Shropshire.— Dripping rocks under Whitcliff, near Ludlow, 
Mr. Westcott. 
Suffolk. — Yoxford, Mr. Ewing ; Bungay, Mr. Stock. 
Surrey. — Albury, Mr. Borrer. 
Warwickshire. — Compton Verney, Mr. Cameron. 
Worcestershire. — Breedon hill and Bromsgrove lickey, Mr. 
Lees. 
