85 
mid-vein, these reach much nearer its summit and are 
arranged in a single row. The scales are yellowish red and 
do not so thickly cover the stalk. The foliage is, when 
mature, generally dark green and conspicuous. The rachis 
and stalk have occasionally a polished purple-brown colour. 
This is a robust, large, handsome Fern, not uncommon in 
the neighbourhood, outvying the standard form in its usual 
aspect. It however assumes the autumnal hue very early 
and is not an evergreen to adorn our woods and hedge- 
banks during the dreary season of winter. 
2. Chafiy Male Fern. Faleacea, Moore. Borreriy 
Newman. As this variety was first noticed in Devonshire, 
it is not surprising that it is found in this neighbourhood. 
Its rich, shining, golden-brown scales, and lofty yellow-green 
fronds, growing densely and compactly in a shuttle-cock 
form within our beautiful woods, make it an especial object 
of admiration. Hooker considers it a good representative 
of the normal or most perfect form of the species. It 
seems to be Don’s Asjpidium paleaceum of Nepaul, common 
enough in other parts of India and elsewhere. Most 
certainly it is a most striking object and should not be 
passed by without a minute description.^ The scales, its 
leading characteristic, are generally bright golden brown, 
most thickly crowded together, not only on the stalk and 
root-stalk, but also on the mid-stem of the frond and of the 
pinnae likewise, giving the plant a peculiarly beautiful hue. 
The lowermost scales are broadly lance-shaped ; as they 
rise upward they become narrower and narrower and at 
last are as fine as the hair of one’s head. The lowest leaflet 
of each pinnm has no stalk, but for the most part a narrow 
attachment and is distinct from the rachis. All the other 
leaflets are decurrent. The leaflets are blunt, serrated at 
the summit, of an oblong form, toothed or serrated likewise 
in the sides. The pinnse are very numerous and near one 
another, sharp-pointed and forming a very acute triangle. 
The covers of fruit are lead-coloured, very enduring, kidney- 
formed, having their margins much bent downwards. The 
clusters are smaller than those of the regular form. The 
under surface of the frond is of a paler green colour. This 
deserves notice, as in the other forms there is no difference. 
