THE CRESTED BUCKLER FERN. ; 213 
pallid broad appressed scales of the stipes, and by the entire indusia, 
in all which respects they perfectly agree. On the other hand, it 1s 
in these points that they differ from the dilatata group. In the 
folio edition of this work, we were led, in deference to the more 
commonly received opinion, to treat of spinulosa separately, but after 
some years' further *observation we revert to our former view, and 
place it here under cristata. 
The plant which we regard as the type of this group is rare and 
local in this country; occurring only in boggy situations. The 
counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, on the eastern side of England, 
seem its head quarters, and thence it stretches westwards to those of 
Nottingham’ and Chester. Some others, as Huntingdonshire and 
Staffordshire, have also been reported, and are sufficiently probable ; 
but these, together with some other English as well as Scotch 
and Irish habitats, either require confirmation, or are altogether 
erroneous. Mr. Watson estimates its range in altitude as extending 
from the sea level, to about 300 feet above it. The variety uliginosa 
is limited in its range ; spinulosa is more generally distributed. The 
distribution of the species is recorded as follows :— 
Ouse. — Suffolk: Westleton, Eng. FI. ; Bexley Decoy, near Ips- 
wich, H. Bidwell. Norfolk: Bawsey Heath, near Lynn; Dersing- 
ham; Edgefield, near Holt; Holt Lows, Rev. W. H. Girdlestone ; 
Fritton, near Yarmouth ; Surlingham Broad, near Norwich, Lev. 
W. S. Hore; Wymondham; Fakenham, W. G. Johnstone. 
? Huntingdonshire. ? Bedfordshire. 
Severn.—Staffordshire: near Madeley; Bog near Newcastle- 
under-Lyne, J. Hardy, Hb. Leighton. ? Worcestershire. 
Trent.—Nottinghamshire: Oxton Bogs, Dr. Howitt; Bullwell 
Marshes. 
Mersey.—Cheshire : Wybunbury Bog, Rev. G. Pinder. 
Humber.—Yorkshire: Plumpton Rocks, near Knaresborough, 
Baines’s Flora; Malton, J. Mackell, C. Monkman. 
This Fern is a generally dispersed European species, occurring 
from the Scandinavian kingdoms to Moscow on the one hand, and 


