2S0 THE FLORIST. 



until these new names become heaped up as obstacles almost insurmount- 

 able along the path which the student has to travel in the prosecution ot 

 his researches. As well might the various character of the noses and 

 beards of the human family be taken to mark out species of the genus 

 Homo, as that the trivial characters which are resorted to by some 

 modern writers on botany, for the purpose of imposing a new nomen- 

 clature, should be accepted by those who have any respect for science. 



The process of nature-printing has been brought to much perfection 

 under the special superintendence of Mr. Henry Bradbury, of the well- 

 known firm of Bradbury and Evans, and the plates of the present work 

 now before us (I. to XV.) bear evidence of his skill and care. The 

 specimens figured are selected by Mr. Moore, whose " Handbook of 

 British Ferns " is the best portable book on the subject, and whose 

 letterpress descriptions in the present work indicate a thorough 

 knowledge of the subject. The w^ork has the benefit of Dr. Lindley's 

 editorial supervision. 



We are glad to find that the author has gone very fully into the 

 description of the varieties which occur among our wild Ferns, many of 

 which are also figured. These notices are valuable, not only because 

 the varieties of Ferns are now very greatly attracting the attention of 

 Fern cultivators, but they have also, as it appears to us, much botanical 

 significance ; for when so many and such different looking plants, grow- 

 ing naturally beneath our very feet, are seen to be but variations or 

 modifications of well known plants, of what trifling importance become 

 the minute differences which are relied upon to distinguish many foreign 

 species so called ! In the portion of this work which is before us we 

 find no fewer than 17 varieties of the Common Polypody, five varieties 

 of the common Prickly Shield Fern, and 17 varieties of the Soft Prickly 

 Shield Fern noticed, and their peculiarities pointed out. The text 

 comprises, besides, full characters of the species and varieties, a very 

 copious list of synonymes, notices of the range of each species, both 

 within this country and beyond it, a complete description of the 

 typical form, and a notice of its affinities, hints for cultivation, and the 

 descriptive notes of the varieties to which allusion has been made. 



The nature-printed Ferns has, as it deserves, our highest commenda- 

 tions, and all engaged in its production our thanks for so valuable, and 

 in reality cheap, an addition to the botanical and horticultural library. 

 We add one or two extracts from the account of the Soft Prickly Shield 

 Fern, plate XII., to bear out our remarks : — 



" There are but scanty records of the occurrence of this Fern in the 

 northern parts of Europe. It has been found in Sweden and Norway, 

 according to Fries. In Scotland it is rare, becoming more plentiful in 

 England, especially towards the south, where, as in Ireland, it becomes 

 abundant. It is also found plentifully southwards, — in France, Belgium, 

 and various parts of Germany; on the Pyrenees, and in Spain (Hb. Hooker,, 

 and Oxon.) ; in Tuscany, Naples, and other parts of Italy; in Greece (Hb. 

 Hooker, and Mus. Brit.) ; at the Dardanelles, and on the coast of the Black 

 Sea (for we have no doubt that the Polypodium setiferum of Forskal from the 

 former is the present species, rather than P. aculeatum, under which it is 

 usually quoted, and with which his brief specific phrase much less accords ; 

 and D'Urville's specimens, gathered on the shores of the Black Sea, preserved 



