NOTICES OF BOOKS. 283 



IV. Smith, John ; Cultivated Ferns ; or, a Catalogue of Exotic and 

 Indigenous Ferns cultivated in British Gardens, with Characters of 

 the Genera, principal Synonyms, etc. 12mo, 84 pages. London: 

 Pamplin, 1857. 



V. Moore, Thomas; Index Filicum: a Synopsis, with Characters 

 of the Genera, and an Enumeration of the Species of Ferns, with 

 Synonyms, References, etc. 12mo. London: Pamplin. 1857. 

 Nos. 1, 2, 3. 



VI. Mettenius, Dr. Georg ; Filices Horti Botanici Lipsiensts. 



Folio. Leipzig, 1856. Thirty Plates, with many figures on each 

 plate. 



VII. Mettenius, Dr. Georg ; JJeber einige Farngattungen. I. 

 Polypodium. (Abhandl. d. Senckenb. Ges. Bd. II.) 4 to, 138 

 pages. Three Plates, with numerous figures. (No further title nor 

 date.) 



We have here brought together the titles of not a few very recently 

 published writings, which cannot fail to interest all students and lovers 

 of Ferns, and which will in a greater or less degree contribute towards 

 that long-sought desideratum, the fixing upon an arrangement of this 

 very extensive and beautiful family, which shall be consistent with na- 

 ture, and practically useful to such as desire to possess a knowledge of 

 the genera and species. Those who have devoted most attention to 

 the Ferns know that that is at present far from being the case ; on the 

 contrary, they cannot make use of the majority of works enumerated 

 above, without seeing and regretting the different views that are ex- 

 pressed by authors upon both genera and species, and without being 

 almost driven to despair at the mass of synonymy collected under each 

 genus and species. Few Ferns, as Mr. J. Smith justly observes, " pos- 

 sess less than two names, many have more, and not a few even exceed 

 twenty." In some, and in no small, degree, this "maze of conflicting 

 views " arises from the very variable character of species, or from the 

 necessity of consulting imperfect descriptions, which are often made 

 from imperfect specimens, and which we may look to be corrected by 

 a more intimate acquaintance with, and a careful comparison of, nume- 

 rous specimens, especially in a living state. This the continually in- 

 creasing taste for cultivating them renders happily more and more 

 practicable. But who shall pretend to settle the limits of genera ? 



