THE SOFT PRICKLY SHIELD FERN. 3153 
frond is caudate. It is similar in general character to dissimile, but 
differs in the more elongated form and less setaceous teeth of those 
pinnules which approach the normal character. It has been found 
in— Hampshire: Fordingbridge, G. B. Wollaston. Devonshire : 
Ilfracombe, Rev. J. M. Chanter—the pinnules generally more deeply 
laciniate-toothed.. Killarney: Dr. Kinahan—rather less toothed in 
the normal portions. Guernsey: J. James. 
23. dissimile (M.). This plant in its normal parts resembles inter- 
medium (17), having its pinnules ovate, and their segments biserrate 
and more aristate than usual, and it is also proliferous; but it differs 
from that variety in having its fronds frequently much depauperated, 
the pinne variously abbreviated, irregularly truncate, or multifid, 
eften here and there intermixed with one of normal outline; the pin- 
nules also are very irregular in size and shape, often fan-shaped 
or depauperately wedge-shaped. It has, moreover, a hispid aspect, 
arising from the abundant aristate tips of its serratures, and the 
narrowness of the scales with which it-is profusely covered. It was 
found near Tunbridge Wells, Kent, by Mrs. Delves, and two or three 
similar forms have been gathered by Mr. Jackson, at Barnstaple, 
Devonshire, and by Mr. James, in Guernsey. [Plate XXIV.] 
24. supralineatum (M.). This variety, which requires further test- 
ing, is bipinnate and apparently dwarfish. It has the pinnules 
more or less and variously depauperated, and variously incised, lobed, 
or toothed, the teeth being not unfrequently rounded, and generally 
wanting the usual seta, The peculiar feature of the variety is, 
however, the presence on the upper side of the pinnules of an excur- 
rent membrane, sometimes forming a rib-like line, sometimes running 
out into callous teeth. It was found near Barnstaple, Dern 
by Mr. C. Jackson. 
25. inequale (M.). This is rather a neat-looking abnormal form, 
the pinnules of which are not much altered. The lower pinne are 
short, giving the frond a lance-shaped outline. The majority of the 
pinnules are oblong-ovate, bluntish, with a terminal awn and an 
anterior basal auricle, as in the neat normal forms, but they are 
here various in size, some being broader, some narrower, and, in the 
upper part of the frond especially, variously misshapen and to some 
extent depauperated. It is the irregularity in the size and form of 

