2/5 



been figured in any book or publication, with the exception 

 of the nature-prints by Col. Jones of Mrs. Thompson's and 

 one of Mr. Moly's forms, the former of which has been 

 reproduced in our Editor's latest book of ferns. Having 

 been reduced by photography, however, that figure gives 

 but a feeble impression of the great beauty of the frond 

 from which the print was taken, and which is well shown 

 in the original nature-prints. The notes by Col. Jones on 

 p. 394 of the same work constitute practically all that has 

 been published upon the subject. As the type is now so 

 rare, it is a little startling to discover that no less than 

 sixteen separate wild finds of this variety have been made 

 at various times, though, I believe, none has occurred 

 during the last quarter of a century. The late Rev. C 

 Padley and the late Mr. C. Jackson were the earliest 

 discoverers, but Mr. Moly was by far the most successful, 

 he having found no less than six of the intermittent and 

 three of the constant or permanent type. 



The leading characteristics of a pulchevvumim are the 

 excessive development and fine cutting of the lower pinnules, 

 the peculiar foliose character which this gives to each 

 pinnule and pinna, and the extremely graceful and feathery 

 appearance of the whole frond. In addition to the above, 

 there is generally, if not invariably, the biological character- 

 istic of apospory to be observed. The thread-like tips of 

 the pinnules and pinnulets grow out, under moist conditions, 

 into prothalli expansions Vv'hich if layered will grow and 

 produce plants. The generally abortive sori also are capable 

 of giving rise to prothallic growths when the fronds are 

 layered. It is not too much to say that in this variety the 

 species rises to its highest flight of genius, at all events so 

 far as wild varieties are concerned. Mr. Moly, writing to 

 me in 1886, called them "the desired of all collectors," and 

 continued, " I have found some which, if you could see 

 them, would make your hair stand up 'like quills upon the 

 fretful porcupine ' ; but, alas ! although tended with the most 

 loving care, they refused to stay in this world." This 



