22 BRITISH FERNS. — SUB-ORDER II. TRIBES 3, 4 . 
plant, which is now a large specimen, and proves a distinct variety. 
More recently Mr. Rowbotham again found this fern in Wales. 
It is to all intents an Irish fern, and is much more rare than it 
used to be. Dr. Mackay found it in Hermitage Glen ; Dr. Stokes, 
at Powerscourt Waterfall; Glendine, by Mr. R. Ball; Glanbour, by 
Mr. J. A. Fisher; Temple Michael Glen, by Mr. D. Murray; 
Ballinhasy Glen and Bandon, by Mr. S. P. Woodward; Clashgariffe, 
by Mr. J. Drummond; Glandore, by Dr. Allman; Bantry and 
Curaan Lake, by Mr. C. C. Babington ; Kildorrery, by Mr. J. 
Carrol; Blackvvater, by Dr. Kinahan ; Cumailte Mountains and 
Tore, Killarney, by Dr. Mackay; Island of Valentia, by Miss H. 
Blackburne; Cromaglaun, by Mr. W. Christy; Mount Eagle, by 
Mr. D. Moore; Gortagaree, by Dr. Taylor; and Blackstones, 
Glouin, Caragh, Inveragh, by Mr. W. Andrews ; and in Donegal 
(1884), by Mr. P. Mahoney. It has also been found in the island 
of Arran, Scotland, by Mr. W. B. Simson, of Edinburgh. 
A native of Spain, Teneriffe, Canary, Madeira, Azores, Algeria, 
Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, New Granada, Brazil, 
United States, Venezuela, Galapagos, Sandwich and Society Isles, 
Northern India, and Polynesia. I have large plants that have 
been growing in pans for forty years, and my special mode of 
culture is worthy of being copied. Large pans, well drained, have 
a compost of freestone, lumps of peat, and silver sand, the stone 
predominating ; on this the rhizomes are fastened. A canal of 
water surrounds each plant. 
My Filmy Ferns are kept in a pit five feet deep, covered at the 
top with frame lights that are lifted daily (sometimes twice a day), 
for the purpose of wetting the fronds with a fine spray in imitation 
of a shower. The plants are elevated on stands (about six inches) 
to keep them above any water that might drain into the pit in very 
rainy weather. The lights are shaded with the “ green Willesden 
scrim” (from the Willesden Waterproof Paper Works). It is just 
the shade ferns delight in ; cheap and durable, and in short nothing 
better could be desired for ferns either in houses or out of doors. 
It is now more than twenty years since these ferns have been 
repotted. 
Varieties. 
# i. Alabamense, Birkenhead. A dwarf American variety, very 
distinct and almost strap-shaped. 4X 1 inches. 
*2. alatum, Clapham. Found in Ireland by the late Mr. 
Clapham, conspicuously winged. 12x6 inches. 
3. Americanum, Birkenhead. Pinnules broad. An American 
variety. 10X4 inches. 
4. Andrewsii, Moore. Found in Glouin Caragh, Ireland, by the 
late Mr. William Andrews, from whom I received a portion of the 
original plant in 1864, fronds narrower and more lanceolate, and 
pinnte more distant. The involucres are sessile and quite sunk in 
the frond. 13X7 inches. 
5. Backhousei, Lowe. Found by Mr. Backhouse of York, in 
Wales, some 35 years ago. A form between Andrewsii and 
