LIST OF THE BRITISH ROSES AND BRAMBLES OCCURRING IN THE LIVERPOOL DISTRICT. By Mr. H. S. Fisher. [READ 15TH JANUARY, 1863.] ROSA (Lin)-Rose. ROSA CINNAMOMEA (L.)-Cinnamon Rose. Specimens of this Rose, collected by Mr. J. Skellon at Kirby, near where the railway crosses the river Alt, are in the Herbarium at the Royal Institution. ROSA SPINOSISSIMA (L.)-Burnet-leaved Rose. Very abundant upon all the sandhills, and occasionally inland. ROSA HIBERNICA (Sm.)-Irish Rose. This interesting and valuable addition to our list of local Roses was made during last summer by Mr. F. M. Webb who found it growing at Great Meols, Cheshire. ROSA SABINI (Woods)—Sabine's Rose. Liscard, abundant; Bromborough, plentiful; hedge near the toll-bar, Oxton; not found on the Lancashire side as yet. Var. B. Rosa Doniana (Woods.) Two or three bushes on the road, near Raby Mere, Cheshire. Var. y. Rosa gracilis (Woods). With the former, but not so plentiful. ROSA VILLOSA (L.)-Hairy-leaved Rose. Bathwood, Ormskirk, rare. Mr. T. Williams. ROSA TOMENTOSA (Sm.)-Downy-leaved Rose. Frequent in hedges and thickets both in Lancashire and Cheshire. Var.? Rosa fætida (Lindley's Synopsis). Hedge at Rainhill, near the railway-station. ROSA MICRANTHA (Sm.)-Small-flowered Sweet-briar. A rose I gathered at Bromborough is considered as referable to this species by my botanical friends; it, however, requires further investigation. ROSA RUBIGNOSA (L.)-Sweet-briar. Hedge at Bromborough village, probably an escape from cultivation. A plant growing in hedges of fields, at Huyton quarry, seems to be this species; if so, it is certainly indigenous at this station. ROSA CANINA (L.)-Dog Rose. Hedges and thickets, very common. West Kirby, Cheshire. Var. 8. Rosa dumetorum (Woods.) Hale, near the church; Bootle &c. Var. E. Rosa Forsteri (Sm.) Bromborough, Rainhill, Walton &c. Var? Rosa dumalis (Bechstein). A rose belonging to the canina section with very much cut and jagged leaflets and distinct in general appearance, which I found by the pits near the entrance to Bromborough woods, has been so named by J. G. Baker, Esq., of Thirsk, a gentleman who is well acquainted with the continental forms of our British roses. ROSA ARVENSIS (Hud's)-Trailing Dog-Rose. Hedges and thickets, very common. Rosa inermis. This plant is apparently quite naturalised in the hedge of a field at Ormskirk. RUBUS (Lin.)-BRAMBLE. RUBUS IDEUS (L.)-Raspberry. In ditches and woods, plentiful in the drains of all the mosses round Liverpool. RUBUS PLICATUS (W. and N.)-Upright Blackberry. Bank, Seven-pits, Aintree road, 1854. Patrick Wood, Cheshire. RUBUS AFFINIS (W. and N.)-Related Bramble. Ditton, near the railway-station; rare. RUBUS LINDLEIANUS (Lees)—Lindley's Bramble. Common in woods and thickets. RUBUS RHAMNIFOLIUS (W. and N.)-Buckthorn-leaved Bramble. Hedges at Eastham, Claughton, Walton, Hale &c. ; frequent. RUBUS DISCOLOR (W. & N.)-Two coloured-leaved Bramble. Hedges &c.; very common and abounding with singular and marked varieties. RUBUS THYRSOIDEUS-(Wimm.) A plant agreeing with the description of this species occurs at Bromborough, Cheshire (1853.) RUBUS LEUCOSTACHYS (Sm.)-White-clustered Bramble. Hedges about Walton and Walton Rakes; plentiful. Var. B. Rubus vestidus (Weihe). Walton; rare. RUBUS CARPINIFOLIUS (W. and N.)-Hornbeam-leaved Bramble. Hedges, Walton, Claughton and Bromborough woods. Claughton, Cheshire; occasionally. F. M. Webb. RUBUS MACROPHYLUS (Weihe). Claughton, Cheshire; rare. F. M. Webb. Var.? Rubus umbrosus (Arrh). Claughton and Oxton, Cheshire; occasionally. F. M. Webb. RUBUS MUCRONULATUS (Bor). Patrick Wood, Cheshire. RUBUS SPRENGELII (Weihe)-Sprengel's Bramble. Hedges, Everton, 1854; Claughton Woods; frequent. RUBUS ROSACEUS (Weihe). Hedges, Walton, Bold Bridge Farm, Farnworth quarry, Claughton. RUBUS SCABER (Weihe)-Scabrons Bramble. Patrick Wood, Bromborough. F. M. Webb. RUBUS KEHLERI (Weihe)-Koehler's Bramble. Hedges, Walton, Everton, Bromborough &c.; frequent. Rubus pallidus (Weihe). Var. Y. Woods and thickets, Cheshire; frequent. RUBUS DIVERSIFOLIUS (Lindl.). Hedges and thickets, Cheshire; frequent. Lancashire; rare. RUBUS CORYLIFOLIUS (Sm.)-Hazel-leaved Bramble. Hedges &c.; very frequent. A form with very much cut and jagged leaflets and flexuose panicle occurs at Walton in the fields, behind Skirving's nursery. RUBUS TUBERCULATUS (Brab.)-Bramble of the Bushes. Hedges at Walton and Everton; frequent has not yet been found on the Cheshire side. : RUBUS CESUS (L)-Dewberry. Hedge-banks; occasionally. Mersey; very common. Sandhills, both sides the ON THE HABITATS OF SOME OF OUR BRITISH FERNS. By Nicholas Waterhouse, Esq. (READ 15TH JANUARY, 1863.) I AM afraid the present paper will be found open to the criticism that it is more remarkable for its omissions than its contents. For several summers, during many mountain rambles, I have watched the growth of our British ferns, and all that I can now profess is to embody the results of the observations I have then made. Several species of ferns are only to be found among the most beautiful scenery of our island, and to bring back their fronds is almost a certain proof of the character of the district where you have wandered. The botanist or the fern fancier enjoys advantages which are sometimes denied to those engaged in kindred pursuits. During the last summer I twice crossed the range of fells in Westmoreland, which from the Roman road on its summit bears the name of High Street. Both expeditions would have been most unsatisfactory to the archæologist. Whether it was that the sight of such remains is only vouchsafed to the eyes of the faithful and believing, or that the very wet season had produced an unusually verdant crop of grass, I do not know; but I could not discover on the broad mountain's brow anything more impressive than a narrow sheep-path. On both occasions the weather was warm and hot mists enshrouded the more distant landscape in a manner which would have been most disappointing to the artist; but I was amply rewarded for my labour by finding a ravine unusually productive of the more beautiful kinds of ferns. The beauty of this genus G |