BRITTLE FERN. 
151 
In the following counties this fern appears widely distributed, 
and in certain localities it is abundant. 
Throughout the Highlands of Scotland it is a very common 
fern, but exhibits a constant preference for walls and bridges : 
in the lowlands it is comparatively of rare occurrence. 
In Ireland it is a rare fern. Mr. Mackay says that it occurs 
on “ rocks and walls in the mountainous parts of the southern, 
northern, and western counties,”* but he gives no precise loca- 
lities. 
Antrim. — In the MS. notes of the late Mr. Templeton there 
is a record of the variety dentata being found by himself “ on 
the rocks of Carrickfergus river, near the waterfall, June 11,1811.” 
Down. — Mr. Thompson informs me he observed it on the 
Black mountain, above Tollymore park, in 1836. 
Kerry. — I am indebted to Mr. Woodward for specimens from 
Brandon hill ; he gathered it at an elevation of 3150 feet : he 
also observed it on cliffs above the Punchbowl at Mangerton, at 
an elevation of 2500 feet. 
Leitrim. — Mr. Thompson has found it in this county. 
Sligo. — I never saw a greater profusion or variety of this 
fern than near the town of Sligo, on approaching it from Manor- 
hamilton ; it occurs not only on the limestone rocks and walls, 
which are there very abundant, but in the hedge-rows, mingled 
with Scolopendrium vulgare. 
The range of elevation is very great, extending over 3000 feet. 
Ferns very similar to many of our British forms of this species 
occur in every country of Europe, in Northern and Southern 
Brecknockshire 
Caernarvonshire 
Cardiganshire 
Cumberland 
Denbighshire 
Derbyshire 
Durham 
Glamorganshire 
Gloucestershire 
Lancashire 
Monmouthshire 
Northumberland 
Radnorshire 
Somersetshire 
Staffordshire 
Westmoreland 
Wiltshire 
Yorkshire. 
Flor. Hib. 341. 
