THE COMMON PRICKLY SHIELD FERN. 133 
E. Lowlands.—Edinburghshire: Braid Woods. Berwickshire: 
Pease Bridge. 
E. Highlands.—¥orfarshire: Glen Fiadh, Clova, W. Wilson (lon- 
chitidoid form). Perthshire: Trosachs, T. M.; Dunkeld. Kincar- 
dineshire. Aberdeenshire. Nairnshire : Cawdor Woods. Morayshire. 
W. Highlands.—Argyleshire: Glen Gilp, Ardrishiag, T. M. 
Isles of Islay, and Cantyre. 
N. Highlands.—Ross-shire. 
Ulster.—Antrim : Colin Glen; Malone, near Belfast (lonchiti- 
doid form). ‘Londonderry, D. Moore. 
. Leinster.—Wicklow: Newtown Mount Kennedy, R. Barrington ; 
Hermitage Glen, Dr. Osborne. 
Munster.—Clare : foot of * Mononita’ (lonchitidoid form). 
Connaught.—Sligo, Mrs. Barrington (lonchitidoid form). 
2. argutum (M.). This variety has a broad lanceolate frond, with 
distinct pinnules as in the typal plant, from which it differs in the 
form of the pinnules, which are narrowed and elongated, becoming 
linear terminating in an acute spiny point, and having long spines 
to the marginal teeth and a prominent auricle. It was gathered in 
some part of Buckinghamshire, by Mr. J. Lloyd. [Plate XVII B.— 
Folio ed. t. X B.] 
3. cristatum (M.). This variety, which has only recently been dis- 
covered, has the pinne pinnate for about half their length, while the 
apical portion is pinnatifid with oblong acute lobes, rounded in front 
as in lobatum, these lobes becoming more and more confluent as they 
approach the apex which is slightly dilated and crispy as in the cris- 
tate varieties of other Ferns, but in a less degree. The upper pinnee 
are confluent, and the apex of the frond is acuminate. The pinnules 
are oblong, acute, with a wedge-shaped base and a small anterior 
auricle. It was found at Barnstaple, by Mr. H. F. Dempster. 
4. crassum (M.). This variety has the pinnules remarkably thick ; 
they are also short, broad, overlapping, and doubly serrate. It was 
found near Basingstoke, by Mr. F. Y. Brocas. 
5. multifidum (Woll.). This has the apex of the frond divided into 
a spreading tuft of branches. Mr. Wollaston has obtained “it from 
Suffolk. Some plants of this character are inconstant. 

