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en 
294 THE BRITISH FERNS. 
ford: Valley of the Blackwater, Dr. Kinahan. Limerick: Cumailte 
Mountains. Kerry: Turk or Tore Mountain, Killarney, Dr. 
Mackay ; Valentia Island, Miss H. Blackburne ; ravine of Cromag- 
laun Mountain, W. Christy ; Mount Eagle, near Dingle, D. Moore ; 
Gortagaree between Killarney and Kenmare, Dr. Taylor ; Black- 
stones, Glouin Caragh, Inveragh, W. Andrews; Curaan Lake, 
Waterville, C. C. Babington. 
Attaining apparently its present northern limit in Ireland, this 
Fern is also met with in western Spain, in the province of Galicia, 
these being its only known European habitats. It occurs in profu- 
sion in the African Isles of the Atlantic Ocean: Teneriffe, the Ca- 
naries, Madeira, and the Azores. In Asia it is found in India, e. g., 
Nepal and Sikkim, where it assumes a more finely-divided form, and 
an outline resembling the var. Andrewsii; also in Khasya, Bootan, 
and Mergui. It is met with again in the West Indies, in Jamaica, 
and Martinique; in Alabama (a small slender form); in Mexico, 
Panama, New Grenada, and Venezuela (large, and much divided) ; 
in Brazil; in the Galapagos, and in the Society Isles. A variety, 
with almost sessile fronds and a spreading involucre, is found in 
Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, and the Sandwich Isles ; and several other 
forms, probably varieties, of this species, occur in various parts of 
South America. The Hymenophyllum rupestre of Raddi, which, fertile 
specimens collected by Gardner in the Organ Mountains, show to be 
a Trichomanes; and the Trichomanes anceps of Wallich, which some ' 
botanists include in this species, appear to be distinct. 
In cultivation this Fern requires to be fixed to a firm and durable 
medium, for which such materials as porous stone, or earthenware, 
or brick are most suitable; and this must be kept constantly moist 
with trickling water. The creeping caudex then, as it grows, attaches 
itself in the manner of ivy to the damp surface of the material with- 
in its reach. To induce this growth of the stem and also a healthy 
development of the fronds, a constantly damp atmosphere is essential ; 
indeed the fronds themselves should be almost constantly in a drip- 
ping state and always shaded. Tt is on this account that the plants 
are so well adapted for cultivation in Wardian cases, or under large 

