THE SOFT PRICKLY SHIELD FERN. 189 
Lonchitis to the tripinnate P. angulare—an unbroken series being 
traceable ; or, of retaining the three British species we have figured 
[Plates XY., XVI., and XVIIL], as well as some of the allied exotic 
ones, as distinct. We are not prepared to adopt the former alterna- 
tive, and therefore, with all its doubt, prefer the latter. 
The specific name angulare, which has been generally employed 
whenever the species has been kept distinct, is here retained for 
this plant, from a suspicion that it may, after all, be found necessary 
to merge it in P. aculeatum, in which case any present change 
would be impolitie. We have no doubt, however, that both the 
P. setiferum of Forskal (1775) and the Polypodium appendiculatum 
of Hoffmann (1795) are referrible here, and these names certainly 
claim priority over angulare (1810). The law of priority, which 
should take effect if our plant should finally be held distinct, 
would give the name of Polystichum setiferum, which is a remarkably 
suitable one. 
The chief differences on which we rely to distinguish between the 
British P. angulare and P. aculeatum, consist in the obtuse-angled base 
of the stalked pinnules of the former, and the acute-angled or wedge- 
Shaped base of the sessile pinnules of the more divided states of the 
latter. The less divided forms of P. aculeatum are much less likely 
to be misunderstood. Even in young immature plants of P. angulare, 
the stalked pinnules may be met with, about the base of the lower 
pinne, at an early stage of growth, so that they need not be mis- 
taken. The upper parts of the fronds alone, in these Polystichums 
are useless for the purpose of identification. 
This very beautiful Fern, which delights in shady wooded places, 
woods, and hedge banks, is much less frequent in its occurrence in the 
United Kingdom than P. aculeatum, though probably more common 
than it in the south of England and in Ireland. It appears to 
extend over the whole of England and Wales, in greater or less 
profusion; and there are records of its occurrence in Scotland. 
In Ireland, it is reported from all the provinces; and it moreover 
occurs in Jersey. It is computed by Mr. Watson to range from the 
coast level to an elevation of from 300 to 600 feet. The habitats of 
which we possess notes, are the following :一 

