THE FERNS OF NORTH-WESTERN INDIA. 419 



always has a markedly creeping and branching rhizome, I have 

 separated it as a new species — N. repens, Hope. An exactly similar 

 character has led to the separation of Poly podium {Phegopteris) late- 

 repens (Trotter), Hope, from P. (Pheg.) distans, Don. These two 

 instances show the importance of ascertaining and recording the nature 

 of the rhizome of a fern. 



11. I have heard nothing but praise of the Plates by which the 

 paper is illustrated. Owing to pressure of other work, Mr. N. E. 

 Brown had to give up his co-operation, but fortunately I was able to 

 get that of Mr. J. N. Fitch, a well-known artist, who had already 

 figured many ferns, and he has very zealously and skilfully carried out 

 my wishes. The work in Calcutta — the completion of the drawings 

 where enlargement was not required, and lithographing the plates — has 

 given great satisfaction ; latterly it has been very kindly superintended 

 by Lieutenant A. T. Gage, I. M. D., who succeeded Dr. Prain as 

 Curator of the Calcutta Herbarium. 



