6i 



artificiality, so to speak, of these abnormal forms led to 

 their utter neglect by scientific botanists, though, as I 

 contend, when they are regarded in their true light as 

 purely natural sports they become a peculiarly fit study for 

 the evolutionist and afford a splendid field for biological 

 research, since it is far more among the vagaries than 

 among the fixed forms of organic life that Nature is apt to 

 reveal her secrets. As soon, indeed, as the abnormal forms 

 begin to be properly studied — and I think I may claim to have 

 induced some research in this particular direction — one of 

 the first results was the discovery that the presumed hard 

 and fast line existing between the two forms of fern life, the 

 prothallus form and that of ferns as we know them, was a 

 myth; since it was found to be broken through very 

 frequently. Thus several varieties of several species are 

 known now to produce prothalii on their fronds, and con- 

 versely produce fronds on their prothalii by simple asexual 

 buds, while to cap the climax, Mr. Lang found that spores 

 were actually produced on the prothalii of several species, 

 and although these did not get the length of perfecting in 

 the cases he observed, the possibility was demonstrated of 

 ferns existing from generation to generation as prothalii 

 only, a long step backwards to their cousins the lichens, 

 though these particular spore-bearing prothalii were pro- 

 duced from such highly-developed forms as the Hartstongue 

 [Scolopendvium vtdgave), and Broad Buckler fern [Lastvea 

 dilatata) . 



Though seemingly, in making these remarks, I have 

 somewhat diverged from my subject, it is not so really, for 

 all the ferns upon which these discoveries were made were 

 abnormal ones, and wild finds, or the true offspring of wild 

 finds, presenting same characteristics ; and this brings me 

 to a comparison in this particular connection of the results 

 obtained where selective culture and assiduous hunting 

 have both contributed their quota to collections. 



Mr. E. J. Lowe's little book "British Ferns, and Where 

 Found," published in i8gi, is recognised by all experts as 



