115 



lowing authors apply the word recurvus to the points of the antennae, 

 the margins of the prothorax, the margins of the elytra, or the extre- 

 mity of the abdomen in insects. Linneus, Fabricius, Gyllenhall, 

 Schonherr, Erichson, Dalman, Burmeister, Kirby, MacLeay, — all so 

 apply it ; and there is no instance within my knowledge of any other 

 meaning being intended by these, or by any other entomological 

 writers, than the following, — curved outwards and upwards, as in 

 the margins of the divisions of the frond ifi Lastrcea recurva. 



But we need not content ourselves with the universal application 

 of the word, although that is strong evidence ; let us turn to its mean- 

 ing as explained in the elaborate work of Kirby and Spence. We 

 find at p. 327 of their fourth volume, — " Recurved {Recurvce), when 

 they curve upwardsy No doubt is expressed : no second meaning 

 given. Indeed, it may be stated, that the application of any other 

 meaning to the word recurvus than that in which Mr. Bree has used 

 it, would falsify every entomological description in which the word 

 occurs. 



Having the universal usage of two sciences in his favour, I trust 

 Mr. Bree will never think of abandoning the name he has proposed 

 for this beautiful fern, the distinguishing of which, at a time when 

 ferns were so little known, does him the greatest credit. 



It may be shown that in Botany the word has been used in two 

 senses, but Prof. Lindley, our best botanical orismologist, restricts 

 its meaning to that intended by Mr. Bree. 



Edward Newman. 



Peckham, March, 1845. 



On the occurrence of Cnicus oleraceus in Lincolnshire. 

 By Edward Edwards, Esq. 



Having read Dr. Bromfield's communication respecting this thistle, 

 as a British species (Phytol. ii. 53), I beg to mention that I possess a 

 specimen of the plant in question, gathered as wild in Lincolnshire 

 by the late Mr. Cole, of Bourne, about 1823. The plant was then to 

 be observed by the side of the road between Market Deeping and 

 Croyland, a most dreary route among fen levels ; but the direct way 

 passed by antiquarian visitors from Deeping, desiring to see the ruins 

 of the once famous abbey at Croyland. Edward Edwards. 



Bexley Heath, Kent, March 3, 1845. 



