80 BRITISH FERNS; 
and in natural localities: still more abundantly in. 
Somersetshire, Wiitshire, Gloucestershire, Stafford- 
shire and Derbyshire, and profusely in the hilly 
regions of North and South Wales, Yorkshire, Lanca- 
shire, Westmoreland, Durham, Cumberland and Nor- 
thumberland. In Scotland I have found it almost 
everywhere, both on rocks and buildings. In Ireland 
it may be called a rare fern: it, however, grows in 
profusion in some localities in the counties Sligo and 
Kerry, and I have received specimens from the counties 
Antrim, Down, Leitrim, Wicklow and Cork. 
. This little fern grows freely and luxuriantly in the 
usual soil of gardens in the counties where it is 
indigenous, requiring only air and moisture: on the 
north side of loose stone walls, provided purposely, 
Cystopteris fragilis seems especially to flourish. In 
pots it seems. still more at home, if they stand in a 
cool and well-ventilated green-house, and if the soil be 
composed chiefly of peat, with a small portion of 
thoroughly decayed leaf-mould and fine sand : the cau- 
dex should be fixed in an erect position bet 5 
as recommended for the Woodsias, Mr. Wollaston, 
whose judgment in all such matters is most excellen 
recommends the addition of loam. The pots should 
oe stand in water, half an inch deep, and the reader 
must recollect, whenever this is recommended, that it 
