3l6 ROMAN'CE OF LOW LIFE AMOXGST PLANTS. 



from 3250 to 4600 ; but this may be accounted for, 

 not only by their larger size and more imposing 

 appearance, but also from the fact of their having 

 long been a great favourite with collectors and 

 horticulturalists,' 



It would be strange indeed if nearly eighty 

 thousand different organisms did not present some 

 features of interest to the popular mind, or offer 

 material for thought to those who desire to look 

 beneath the surface of things. The romantic aspect 

 of the cryptogamia is by no means exhausted by 

 the foregoing pages, but perhaps something has 

 been done to show that even amongst the humblest 

 organisms in creation there are marvels and mysteries, 

 lessons and suggestions, facts and phenomena, which 

 are worthy of the attention of young and old, and 

 sometimes almost as fascinating as a fairy tale. 



Note to the above. — Since the estimate above quoted was 

 printed, Professor Saccardo has issued the following census : — 

 Filices ... ... ... ... ... 2819 



Equisetaceae, Marsiliaceos, etc. 



Musci 



Hepaticse 



Lichenes 



Fungi 



Algae ... .1. 



565 

 4609 



3041 



5600 



39,663 



12,17s 



Total 68,475 



