190 



author's suggestions, and to prejudice him very materially in the 

 estimation of all who enquire for themselves. It is well known to 

 those who have paid any attention to our British ferns, that Smith, 

 (followed by Mr. Babington), applied the name of dilatata to a group 

 of species which he supposed to constitute but one. Hooker sub- 

 sequently applied the name of spinulosa to the same group. Conti- 

 nental authors have generally adopted the same plan, sometimes 

 giving one name, sometimes another, according as they considered 

 one or other name possessed the claim of priority. Mr. Newman, in the 

 • * History of British Ferns ' just published, has shown that this group 

 comprised several species, three of which he proves have been 

 clearly described before under the names of multiflora, spinosa, and 

 recurva : he therefore adopts these names, because the other names, 

 though perhaps having the claim of priority — as Mr. Babington 

 attempts, but not satisfactorily, to explain — were never applied to 

 species, but to families, or groups of species. The object of Mr. 

 Babington 's present paper is to sink the names of the species altoge- 

 ther — to assign one synonyme to one species, and another synonyme 

 to another species This is very illogical. Linneus himself included 

 several species of Ophrys under the name of insectifera ; but we 

 never think of debating whether that name shall be assigned to the 

 * Bee ' or to the ' Fly.' Papers like this of Mr. Babingtou's do infi- 

 nite mischief. We hope we shall see no more of them. 



Notice of ' A Catalogue of British Ferns, including the Equisetace<B 

 and Lycopodiacece : intended for Labels. London : Edward 

 Newman, 9, Devonshire-street, Bishopsgate. 1845. 



The author's object in printing this Catalogue, is to introduce a 

 greater uniformity in the nomenclature of British Ferns. Until lately, 

 scarcely any attention had been given to this subject ; and if he has 

 succeeded in detecting and correcting a few errors, it is no more than 

 was to be anticipated from the labours of any one who ventured on a 

 task from which all others appear to have shrunk, from a feeling of 

 distaste. Such a circumstance should never be viewed with jealousy 

 or distrust. The author's own collections, deposited with the Linne- 

 an Society and other public bodies, will be labelled with this Cata- 

 logue; so that until an abler hand shall supply another ' History of 

 British Ferns,' the present names must be considered to carry with 

 them that degree of authority which is ever granted to the compiler of 



