1027 



more especially, we fancy we discover such symptoms of unfair deal- 

 ing, that we cannot let slip this opportunity of endeavouring to place 

 the matter in its true light. 



After enumerating the discrepancies between the Edinb. Catalogue 

 and the 5th edition of the ' British Flora,' the editor continues : — 

 " Now the whole of these changes, * * no more originated 

 with Mr. Newman, they are no more his original " nomenclature," 

 * * than they did with the authors of the Edinburgh Cata- 



logue.* Now upon an impartial examination of the review, we cannot 

 perceive that the reviewer anywhere claims for Mr. Newman the me- 

 rit of having originated this " nomenclature," and certainly Mr. New- 

 man nowhere claims it for himself, as we think we shall presently be 

 able to prove, from the evidence kindly laid before us by the editor 

 himself. 



With a few exceptions, the editor might have found nearly all that 

 he has said on the authorship of certain genera, in the ' History of 

 British Ferns ' itself. For instance, he says that " The genus Po- 

 ly stichnm was invented by Roth in the year 1800, and is absolutely 

 identical with Aspidium, as it stands in the British Flora ! including 

 both Polystichum and Lastraa of the Edinburgh Catalogue." So far 

 the editor; now for Mr. Newman. At p. 36 (ed. 1) of his History, 

 under Polystichum aculeatum, he says, " This genus was established 

 by Koth, and has been adopted by DeCandolle and Schott ; " and 

 the following passage occurs at p. 11, 2nd edition, " Genus Polysti- 

 chum, Roth. Involucre attached by its centre. This genus includes 

 all the species I have placed under Lastraja ; it was first restricted 

 by Schott to the congeners of Roth's typical species — Lonchitis." If 

 now we turn to p. 1(36 of the 2nd edition of the History, we find a 

 passage bearing a remarkable family likeness to the above quotation 

 from the editor's foot-note. " The genus Polystichum was establish- 

 ed by Roth in his ' Flora Germanica,' in 1800, and is so far synony- 

 mous with Swartz's genus Aspidium, published in the same year, that 

 both included a long list of the same species." 



The editor proceeds : — " Lastrrea originated in M. Bory de St. 

 Vincent in 1824, and was formed to include the Polypodia! Oreopte- 

 ris, Thclypteris and unitum. Presl in 1836 altered the character, to 

 make it comprise certain Aspidiaceous plants, banished all Bory's 

 species, and was the author of the names of the Lastraea as they stand 



* It will be seen on a reference to tbe original, that the sense and bearing- of tlio 

 passages here quoted are in no wise a fleeted by the omissions. 



