58 A MANUAL 



find an insuperable difficulty in identifying the 

 majority of his collected treasures. 



The varieties, and I may add the species, run one 

 into another, equall}'' perhaps with that difficult tribe 

 of plants, " The Ferns and their Allies," and there- 

 fore nothing short of lengthened and accurate per- 

 sonal observation will reduce this branch of the 

 subject to a certainty. There is no greater difficulty 

 in Natural History than the determination of specific 

 characters ; and if the student be not always satisfied 

 with the result of his own and others' labours, he 

 will, at any rate, have the consolation of exercising 

 on his road three great and practical virtues — 



PATIENCE, ACCURACY AND PERSEVERANCE. 



