THE SOFT PRICKLY SHIELD FERN. 159 
var. acutum, has been found at Upcott, Devon, by Mr. T. Wren 
Harding. 
42. Kitsonie (M.). This beautiful variety is remarkable from the 
rachis of its fronds separating towards the top, into four or five 
branches, the branches being corymbosely-tufted, and the pinne 
which form them, dilated and crispy at their tips. The lower pinne 
are normal in character, their pinnules numerous, oblong-acute, 
setaceo-serrate, and less auriculate than usual, the confluent tips of: 
the pinne having a tendency to dilatation. In the branches forming 
the great tuft which terminates the frond, the pinne and pinnules 
are more or less altered from irregular development, the parts being 
mostly smaller and more generally confluent than in the lower 
pinne, but there is the same setaceous toothing throughout. The 
extreme points of the upper pinn® expand into little crispy tufts. 
It is altogether a most distinct and beautiful variety, represented 
on our plate, by one of the upper branches, and some of the lower 
pinnz detached. The plant was found at Torquay in Devonshire, 
by Miss Kitson, in 1856. It was communicated to us by Mr. R. J. 
Gray of Exeter, by whom it is cultivated, and who finds it to be quite 
constant to its peculiarities. [Plate XXVIII. ] 
43. corymbiferum (M.). This is a corymbosely branched variety of 
the same general character as Kitsonie (42), but less marked in its 
peculiarities. It has been found by Mr. Willison at Whitby, York- 
shire. In this the lower part of the frond is nearly normal with 
rather small pinnules, the apex being corymbosely branched, but 
less compoundly so, than in Kitsonie. It is, however, an elegant 
variety, and Mr. Willison reports it to be constant. 
44. depauperatum (Woll.). This rare and curious variety has the 
fronds frequently so much depauperated that they become. mere 
skeletons with little but the ribs and veins remaining; sometimes 
a few pinnules are borne in various stages of depauperisation. Occa- 
sionally, however, a frond is produced either entirely or partially 
normal in character. It is, as far as is known, dwarf and barren, 
though it sometimes produces bulbils. It was found in Ireland— 
Dublin: Bohernabreena, Dr. Kinahan. 

