Hamilton. — Abnormal Developments in N.Z. Ferns. 335 



mains of old fronds, it was easy to find many unusual and 

 beautiful forms of cresting at the tips of the barren fronds. 



I took four large plants of L. fluviatilis and examined 

 those fronds that were still green, with the following re- 

 sults : — 



Plant a. — Average length of frond, 30 in. It had twelve 

 barren fronds, ten of which were crested, and six fertile 

 fronds, three of which were crested. 



Plant b. — Average length of fronds, 15 in. The plant had 

 eight barren fronds in sufticiently good condition to measure, 

 and six of these were crested. The relatively small number 

 of fronds is accounted for by the cattle having eaten off the 

 tops of many, and having otherwise broken down the plants 

 so that the condition of the apex could not be observed. 



Plant c. — Average length of frond, 19 in. There wei-e 

 seven barren fronds, and of these all were crested. Two fertile 

 fronds were so far perished that it was impossible to say 

 whether thev had been normal or not. 



Plant d. — A large plant from a very wet situation, the 

 average length of fronds 30 in. It had thirty-three barren 

 fronds, of which twenty-four were crested, and sixteen fertile 

 ones, apparently all normal. 



I cut this plant up carefully to see if the root-stock could 

 be separated into separate heads carrying crested and non- 

 crested forms separately, but found it only composed of three 

 heads, each carrying crested and non-crested fronds. 



These results only show, of course, the proportion of ab- 

 normal fronds on the growth of the last season, or possibly 

 two seasons. The dried and rotten fronds of previous years 

 could not be examined as the tips perish so readily. 



A specimen of the form of cresting is shown on Plate XXVI. 

 I have no doubt that such a natural sport could be perpetu- 

 ated and improved upon by cultivation, as the sporiferous 

 fronds have been found divided and crested. I have given 

 several plants to a gentleman who takes an interest in the 

 •culture of New Zealand ferns, and he will, I hope, be able to 

 perpetuate, if not improve, the variety. Since finding this 

 form at Morison's Creek I have come across equally good 

 specimens in deep creeks nearer the Waitati Saddle, in the 

 Water of Leith, though not in such profusion. 



In thinking over the matter of variation in fronds I re- 

 membered noticing an unusual number of abnormalities in the 

 fronds of the common Lomaria proccra, which covers a large 

 portion of the southern slopes of Signal Hill, and which 

 seems to spring up after every scrub-fire, like the Pteris on 

 the hills in the North. On the 3rd September I went out 

 for two hours one afternoon on the hillside with the view of 



