

"240 THE BRITISH FERNS. 
becomes concealed among the spore-cases. The plants from Ilfra- 
combe are very similar, but consist of two forms differing slightly in 
the colour of the scales, and in the form and manner of the toothing 
of the pinnules; the dwarfer plant having the more pallid scales. 
Besides the Settle and Ilfracombe plants, there are others which we 
refer to this variety, from—Devonshire: Challacombe, Exmoor. 
Dumbartonshire : Tarbet. Mayo: foot of Slieve More, near Dugort, 
Island of Achill, R. Barrington. Wicklow: Glen of the Downs, 
R. B. Kerry: Killarney, R. B. It is probably not uncommon 
in elevated rocky localities; according to Mr. Newman it is frequent 
in the hill districts of Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. 
11. micromera (M.). The peculiarity of this form, which has a 
stout stipes clothed with large very dark scales, and is of the normal 
ovate-lanceolate outline, and about two feet high, is, that it is more 
finely divided than usual. The fronds are not large, but they are 
almost quadripinnate, and the lobes are small and have numerous 
small sharp teeth. It was found in the neighbourhood of Ilfracombe, 
Devonshire, by the Rev. J. M. Chanter. Somewhat similar forms 
occur in—Devonshire: Barnstaple, C. Jackson. Pembrokeshire: 
Castle Malgwyn, W. Hutchison. Argyleshire: Glen Croe T. M. 
12. deltoidea (M.). This form grows about two feet high, and has 
deltoid tripinnate finely-cut fronds, the stipes slender, and the whole 
aspect of the plant light and elegant. The scales of the stipes are 
dark-coloured. The pinnules and lobes are rather blunt, with 
largish mucronate unequal teeth. It is a Devonshire plant, collected 
by the Rev. J. M. Chanter; and a very similar one has been gathered 
at Barnstaple by Mr. C. Jackson. 
13. fuscipes (M.). This is a glandular form of elegant appearance, 
growing two feet or more in height, and having the stipites, which are 
comparatively slender, of a pale chestnut brown behind, and fur- 
nished with dark-coloured or sometimes palish narrow scales. The 
fronds are broad ovate, almost triangular, rather delicate in texture, 
glandular, tripinnate below, the points of the frond and of the pinne 
acuminate or sometimes almost caudate. The segments are oblong, 
the largest lobate and serrate, the smaller merely serrate; the 
teeth are everywhere large and mucronate, and occur towards the 
upper end of the segments, the bases of which are rather narrowed 

