other genuine species of the genus, L. noveiomcensis for example,
to permit of its separation on account of this peculiarity.
We have already mentioned, that there is no good or sufficient
reason to fix on this species, as the type of Bory’s genus Lastrcea;
in fact he altogether ignores the presence of an indusium, which is
at least sometimes found in this plant. Bory’s genus had lapsed,
being an ill-assortod ill-defined group; and when the name in an
altered form was revived hy Prosl, the common Male F e rn became
its typal representative. The present species is therefore rather
an anomalous thau a tjrpical member of the group, though not
sufficiently so to render its separation necessary.
This species, called the Sweet Mountain Fern, sometimes grows
in damp woody places, especially luxuriating hy the side of a shady
rill or stream; but it is much more profusely met witb on the
hdl sides in heathy mountainous districts. In many parts of
the Ilighlands of Scotland it is the common Fern of the MR sides
and road sides. I t extends in this direction to the North Highlands
and the Western Is le s; thence scattered southwards through
the Lowlands, it abounds in the Lake districts of the North of
England and in Wales, and occurs more or less plentifully in waste
districts all over England. I t is also found in all the provinces of
Ire lan d ; and is, according to Dr. Maekay, plentiful in that country.
Mr. IVatson gives its range of elevation as extending from the coast
level to an altitude of about 2850 feet, which may probably he extended
to 3000 feet. The foRowing habitats are recorded:—■
Peninsula.—CornwaR. Devonshire: Brendon Wood, and borders
of W. Lyn, Lynmouth, T. Clark; Barnstaple, H. F. Dempster;
Challacombe, Exmoor, 3 . F. Dempster. Somersetshire: near
Keynsham; Selworthy, Mrs. A . Thompson, etc.
Channel.—Hampshire: New Forest near Lyiidhurst; near Southampton.
Isle of W ig h t: Apse Castle. Dorsetshire. Wiltshire.
Sussex: Danny, near Brighton, Bev. T. Rooper; TRgate Forest,
J . A . Brewer; Waterdown F o re st; Fridge Woods, near Tunbridge
WeRs, and elsewhere.
Thames.—^HertfordsMre: Bell Wood, Bayford; Tring; Broxbourne,
etc. Middlesex: Hampstead. Kent: Bexley, R. Sim;
Elackheath; Bailey’,s Hill, between Brasted and Tunbridge, W.
Pamplin; Tunbridge WeRs. Surrey: YTtley; Houndsdown Bottom,
near Hindhead ; Cobham; Wimbledon, etc. Oxfordshire: Shotover
Hill. Buckinghamshire : HartweR. Essex: High Beech ; Little
Baddow, A . Wallis.
0 „se._Suffolk: BradweR. Norfolk: near Crome, R . Wigham.
Cambridgeshire : Fulbourne, Teversbam, etc. Northamptonshire :
DalHngton Heath.
&Eer«.—Warwickshire : Allesley; about Arhury H a ll; ColeshRl
H e a th ; Corley, Rev. W. Bree; Dunsmore Heath, near Eughy,
Ray. Gloucestershire: Ankerbury HRl, Forest of Dean, W. 3 .
Purchas; Leigh Woods, near Bristol. Monmouthshire: Glyn
Ponds ; Nantygollen, near Pont-y-pool, T. 3 . Thomas. Hereford-
shii-e. Worcestershire: Malvern Hills, F. Lees; Bromsgrove.
Staffordshire; Eamshaw Eooks, near Warslow. Shropshire: Whit-
chffe; Ludlow; Shawbury Heath ; Wyre Forest.
Leicestershire: near Twycross. Eutland. LinoolnsMre.
Nottinghamshire: HartsweR, near Farnsfield ; Oxton Bog; Edding-
ley Bog. Derbyshire : DetMch Moor ; ERey, Dr. Hoiritt.
—Cheshire : Moorland, near Birkenhead, F. Brent;
Oxton. Lancashire: near Warrington, W. Wilson; Middleton,
3 . Buckley ; Eochdale ; E a in h ill; Gateacre.
^j„„ji.,.,_Yorkshire : Sheffield; Valley of the Don, near Doncaster;
Melton Wood, near Adwick ; Esorick, near York; WMtby;
Castle Howard Woods; Eicbmond; Bradford, J . T. Newboult;
Halifax ; Everley, near Scarborough, W. Bean.
Tyne.—Durham: Chapel Weardale ; Darhngton ; Cawsey Dene,
near Newcastle ; hy the Tees. Northumberland: Emhleton; banks
of the Irthing, Bev. B. Taylor.
i a t e .—Cumberland; Keswick; near Lodore waterfaR, H. C.
Watson; Patterdale ; Hawl GiR, YMstwater. Westmoreland :
Eydal W a te r; Langdale, and other parts. Isle of Man.
Wafes.—Eadnorshire. Brecknockshire. Glamorganshire;
Swansea, T. B. Flower. Carmarthenshire. OardigansMre.
N . Ffflfes. — Anglesea. Denbighshire: Wrexham; Llanjuny-
nech, C. C. Babington. Flintshire. Merionethshire: Dolgelly.