67 
mon form. The lower leaflets of a pinna have from three 
to five teeth. The branches of the veins, too, are more nu- 
merous. While the clusters of fruit in the regular plant 
occupy only the lower half of the leaf near the 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, gene- 
rally 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 neigh- 
bourhood, 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. JPaleacea, Moore. Borreri, New- 
man. 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 Aspidium paleacemn 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-stock, 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 leafiet of each pinnae has no 
stalk, but for the most part a narrow attachment, and is 
distinct from the rachis. All the other leafiets are decur- 
rent. The leafiets are blunt, serrated at the summit, of an 
oblong form, toothed or serrated likewise in the sides. The 
pinnae 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 
