

338 THE BRITISH FERNS. 
The Common Adders Tongue, with its broad oval barren, 
and linear fertile branch, is so unlike other British Ferns, except 
the Dwarf Adder's Tongue of Guernsey, that it may be at once 
distinguished by these features. Its simple barren branch does not 
present much variation, the principal differences lying between a 
short broad ovate outline, and a more elongated form approaching 
to lanceolate. The Guernsey species has linear or linear-lanceolate 
fronds, and is altogether a pigmy compared with the common sort. 
The Common Adder's Tongue is a generally dispersed British 
plant, and is mostly abundant where it occurs. The localities in 
which it is found are moist loamy pastures and meadow land, in 
which situations it often proves injurious to the grass crop, from its 
abundance, and from being disliked by cattle. It is however, 
observes Dr. Kinahan, capricious in its growth, being one year 
abundant, and the next not to be found. It seems less common in 
Wales, as well as in Scotland and Ireland, but extends north wards 
to Orkney and Shetland, in the former of which Islands Mr. J. T. 
Syme has found a small variety, fructifying in autumn. There are 
but few recorded Irish habitats, though it is found in the widely- 
separated counties of Antrim, Galway, Dublin, and Cork. Mr. 
Watson gives 600 feet as the probable limit of its altitude above the 
sea level. The records of its distribution are :— 
.. Peninsula.—Cornwall. Devonshire: Slateford; Barnstaple, J. 
Nash; Okehampton, near Exeter, R. J. Gray; Westdown, near 
Ilfracombe, Rev. F. Mules. Somersetshire: near Bristol, Miss 
Worsley ; Bath, R. Withers. 
_ Channel. Hampshire: Strathfieldsaye; Stoke; Wanston. Isle 
of Wight : Bembridge Down; Blackgang Chine; West Cowes, &c. 
Dorsetshire: Box. Wiltshire: meadows at Longleat, Mr. Rowden. 
Sussex: Highlands; Framfield, &e. 
Thames.- Hertfordshire : Bury Woods, Hitchin; Elstree ; Essen- 
den, and other parts. Middlesex: Hackney Marshes; Sion-lane, 
Isleworth ; Osterley Park, Brentford, J. Bevis; Acton, S. O. Gray. 
Kent: West Farleigh ; Greenhithe ; near Canterbury, &c. Surrey: 
Compton; Beddington, D. Maher; Cobham; Reigate; near Dork- 
ing, J. Bevis, &c. Oxfordshire: Banbury. Essex. 

