PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY DURING THE QUARTER. 



151 



Mr. Starling drew attention to a fern (Adianium fergvscnii) exhibited by 

 him, and explained that it had been found about five years ago in a garden at 

 Negombo in Ceylon, but that no one knew how or whence it had come there. 

 The species was unknown at Kew, but the authorities there considered that 

 it was a cross between A. farleyense and A. tenerum. Looking, however 

 to the place where it was found, that was impossible, as A. farleyense had 

 never been known to bear spores in Ceylon. It was, therefore, regarded by 

 Dr. Trimen, the Director of the Botanic Gardens at Peradeniya, as a new 

 species, and named by him after the discoverer, Mr. Ferguson, the Municipal 

 Engineer in Colombo. Mr. StarliDg also suggested that it would be useful if 

 those who had plants of A. farleyense would watch them, as his had apparently 

 prepared to bear spores, the edges of the leaves having turned under, 

 to as to form receptacles, but that he had not hitherto been able to detect any 

 spores. 



