286 NOTICES OF BOOKS. 
gardens with hardy and other plants, that would recommend themselves, 
by their rarity and beauty, to all cultivators. 
Moore, Tuomas, F.L.S8.: Zhe Ferns of Great Britain and Ireland ; 
edited by Joun Linpuey, Ph. D., F.R.S., etc. Imp. folio. Parts 
IL, IV., and V. Nature-printed by Henry Bradbury. London. 
1855. 
We must refer to our favourable notice at page 185, ete., for parti- 
eulars relating to Parts I. and II. of this really fine work. 
Part III. commences with Tab. 8, A//osorus crispus (Cryptogramma, 
Br.). Accurate and expressive as the figures are, we cannot think it 
so good as many of the other subjects. The greens are not the bright 
hues of this charming plant (“herbaceous and lively green," as Mr. 
Moore expresses it), the barren fronds are too transparent, and the 
fertile fronds and the caudex are of a uniform dirty and spotty brown. 
Mr. Smith's views of this Fern being ** Polypodioid, and not Pteroid," 
are maintained ; in other words, the so-called involucre is no involucre, 
. but “the margins of the pinnulets, somewhat pallid, but not altered 
in texture, are ineurved over the sori." Mr. Moore's figures would 
lead to the supposition that these are altered both in colour and texture. 
.. Be that as it may, true Pteroid genera, especially Cheilanthes, will show 
every variety between a membranous incurved margin (by which it is 
presumed a real involucre is meant), and an unaltered incurved margin, 
or of the texture and colour of the frond. Tab. 9 exhibits Polystichum 
Lonchitis. Tabs. 10, 11 are devoted to Polystichum aculeatum, and 
certain varieties called argutum, alatum, and lobatum; and three other 
varieties are noticed. It will be seen that the P. lobatum, generally 
considered distinct, is here unhesitatingly considered (and, we suspect, 
rightly so) a mere form of aculeatum; while the P. angulare (“ from 
which P. aculeatum is very difficult to be distinguished”) is kept dis- 
tinct, and made the subject of the two following plates, Tabs. 12 and 
13, with several varieties. — Lasfrea Filix-mas is well represented at 
"Tab. 14, and the fructifications are more effective in their colouring 
than usual. We have the variety incisa at Tab. 15; the still more re- 
markable forms cristata and polydactyla (which seem to be identical) 
». 16: and again, two very similar and small varieties, pumila 
Weacea, hardly worthy of separate representation, at Tab. 17. 
