NOTICES OF BOOKS. 29 



take the opportunity to tyention that the fronds oi uliffinosa, figured on 

 Plate XX., to which you specially allude (p. 320), were from one root, 

 the production of such fronds being the characteristic of this variety. 

 They are themselves the evidence which led me to the conviction that 

 there is a close afl&nity between Z. cristata and i. spbiulosa. In in- 

 cluding this latter name as that of a variety under X. cristata (Plate 

 XIX.), I expressed my own view of the subject, as originally stated in 

 my * Handbook of British Perns,' whilst it was printed somewhat more- 

 prominently at Plate XXI., in deference to the more general opinion. 

 The main differences of the two groups I have above "alluded to are 

 pointed out in the text which accompanies Plate XIX." 



On the above explanation, we will take leave to say that, with the 

 inestimable advantages Mr. Moore possesses in 'Nature's Printing/ 

 we think he would do best to be totally uninfluenced by the views and 

 opinions of others ; and that, by confining his main attention to the 

 beautiful types of the species so faithfully represented on the plates, 

 and discarding the hosts of synonyms (many of which cannot possibly, 

 with certainty^ be determined) — we especially allude to the dilatala and 

 sjpinnlosa group — and the overwhelming enumeration of varieties, he 

 will come to a more accurate determination on these qucestiones vexatcjc. 

 We learn, for example, from Mr. Moore that the two left-hand figures 

 (Tab. XX., Lastrea cristata uliginosa) are derived from the same root 

 as the right-hand figure. This being the case, whatever may have been 

 said in fiivour of the two former being considered to belong to L. cris- 

 tata^ it IS quite certain that they are one and the same with the right- 

 hand figure ; and further, the outline does not partake of that of the 

 true cristata (it is not narrowed at the base); and if we look at tlie 

 "Z. spinulosa " figured at Tab. XXI., we think there can hardly be a 

 doubt of the propriety of referring it to that species, and that X. spinu- 

 losa is exactly intermediate between the two Ferns figured at Tab. XX., 

 which'two are from one and the same root. Surely if two forms are so 

 different that one has been generally referred to L. cristata and the 

 other to Z. spinulosa, it should teach us a lesson not to raise less 

 marked variations to the rank of species. 



If, now, the Z. cristata uliginosa may be safely refeired to the spi- 

 7iulosa as represented at Tab. XXL, we think he must be a bold mau 

 who will separate Mr, Moore's Z. dilatata CJianteruBy Tab. XXIV,, 

 specifically, from Z. spinulosa. If this be granted,— and entirely agree- 



