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REVIEWS. 



A Popular Histori/ of the British Ferns and Allied Plants. By- 

 Thomas Moore, F.L.S., Curator of the Chelsea Botanic Garden, 

 Author of the " Handbook of British Ferns," " The Ferns of Great 

 Britain and Ireland, Nature Printed," &c. Second Edition. 

 London : Reeve. 

 This book is one of Mr. Reeve's popular series on subjects of natural 

 history. It was to be expected that a topic of such general interest 

 as the Fern family should form part of such a series ; and that, if at all 

 creditably handled, it v^rould find , favour with the public, as the 

 appearance of a second edition bears evidence has been the result in 

 each case. It is, in fact, a book such as we can highly recommend, on 

 account of its excellent typography, its beautiful coloured portraits, 

 twenty-two in number, by Fitch, who is without a rival as a botanical 

 artist, and the excellent tone, and very complete manner in which the 

 author has fulfilled his duties. One of the features of the book is a 

 very extensive list cf the habitats in which the plants are found in 

 this country ; the most complete record of the kind which has as yet 

 appeared, and which we perceive has received much extension in the 

 present edition. 



We gather from the preface some intimation of the changes the 

 present issue has undergone. It " wiU be found to contain notices of 

 the more striking varieties which are now known to occur among the 

 British Ferns. The species which have been added to our flora since 

 the former edition was prepared are now described, and figures of them 

 have been added. The list of localities has moreover received very 

 numerous additions. The author, indeed, has not found space, neither 

 did the design of the book seem to render it desirable, to mention, 

 much less describe, all the variations from the normal form of the 

 species which have been observed — variations of which some of our 

 Ferns have proved very prohfic. Those who are desirous of more 

 extended information on this part of the subject are referred to the 

 author's ' Handbook of British Ferns,' and to the text and figures in 

 the ' Ferns of Great Britain and Ireland, Nature-printed.' The search 

 for varieties of the British Ferns has become so unexpectedly successful, 

 that the modifications of form which it is found are assumed by some 

 of the species furnish important evidence against species making — the 

 bane of modern botany." 



The text of the volume before us answers to these announcements. 

 There are no unmeaning changes of names, such as disfigure some 

 recent books on the same subject, while the account of the plants is 

 plain and honest, and sufficiently detailed for an elementary book. 

 The figures are admirable. Taken in all its parts this is, we believe, 

 the best book on the subject for a beginner ; and we have no hesitation 

 in saying that for those who require a more complete account of these 

 popular plants, the same author's " Handbook" which is accompanied 

 by neat wood engravings of the species, is the most useful and sound. 

 As a splendid contribution to the literature of botanical science, and to 

 that of Ferns in particular, the " Nature-printed Ferns of Great Britain 



