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and stones. It is widely dispersed through Europe, pre- 
ferring the cool and mountainous countries. It grows in 
Iceland and the Alps of Switzerland. It is found in various 
parts of Asia, from the Altai and Siberia as far east as 
Kamschatka. Algeria is said to produce it. Specimens have 
also been brought from Greenland, and Labrador, through- 
out Canada to the Eocky Mountains, and from the Northern 
United States to the North "West coast at King William’s 
Sound. Watson calls it “rupestral.” Our plant grows in 
a boggy piece of ground in Hawkchurch within a copse 
among bushes and trees, where there is a patch of a hundred 
or two fronds. It is an interesting addition to the “ Eerns 
of the Axe.” 
With regard to its cultivation, there should be a compost 
made of two-thirds bog earth and one-third sand. Great 
care should be taken not to break off the fibres of the 
creeping root, when it is taken up for transplantation. It 
should have a copious supply of water, which should not be 
allowed to stagnate. This might be guarded against by 
placing underneath the compost coarse rubble, or small 
pebbles, or something of this kind. 
Family II. Shield-Bearees. Aspidiece, 
Some travellers have mentioned a most remarkable plant 
of this family, the Tartarian Lamb, Aspidium or Cihotium 
JBaromez, This, from its peculiar colour and form, was sup- 
posed to be a vegetable animal. Struys, an old traveller, 
says “On the western side of the Volga there is an elevated 
salt plain of vast extent, but wholly uncultivated and unin- 
habited. On this plain grows the Boranez or Bornitsch. 
This wonderful plant has the shape and appearance of a 
lamb with feet, head, and tail distinctly formed. Its skin 
is covered with very white down, as soft as silk. The 
Tartars and Muscovites esteem it highly, and preserve 
it with great care in their houses, where I have seen many 
such lambs. The sailor who gave me one of these precious 
plants, found it in a wood, and I had its skin made into a 
