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renlly over tracts distant from the sea. I have gathered it at Helston, 

 in Cornwall, and in November last I found it clothing the hedges of 

 a narrow lane near Hessenford, in the same county, with its crisped 

 fi-onds, and attaining a greater size than I had previously witnessed. 

 Hessenford is about ten miles from Devonport, and two from the sea: 

 I did not see a single specimen to the east of the village, but on the 

 other side, selecting the road to Looe, it is in great abundance. I 

 had fancied that all British botanists were at length agreed as to this 

 plant being a good and valid species, but such seems not to be the 

 case. I have not seen the last edition of Hooker's ' British Flora,' 

 but I glean from the pages of the ' Phytologist' that it is, there 

 recorded as a variety of spinulosum. Now whether this decision be 

 pronounced by Sir W. Hooker or by Dr. Walker- Arnott, it is a for- 

 midable thing to find oneself placed in opposition to such high bota- 

 nical authority. It is, however, probable that neither of these justly- 

 celebrated botanists, men possessing a European fame, have seen this 

 fern growing in its native habitats, or if they have it may have been 

 when the question of its distinctness had not been fairly raised, and 

 hence they did not observe it with that critical acumen which they 

 usually display. Mr. Newman was, I believe, the first in this coun- 

 try to give a diagnosis of the species under consideration, by which 

 it might at once be distinguished from multiflora and spinosa : I have 

 seen hundreds of specimens, all of which answer correctly to his 

 description, and I should say that no species of fern is less inclined 

 to wander from the characters ascribed to it than does this from the 

 characters given in the ' British Ferns.' But it is from an acquaint- 

 ance with L. recurva in its natural localities that one feels satisfied 

 that it is not a mere variety. It requires no close examination to 

 separate it from the numberless fronds of multiflora in its neighbour- 

 hood : a single glance must reveal the truth. And if its progress 

 from youth to old age be marked we shall obtain additional evidence: 

 we shall find that barren fronds arc not simply characteristic of 

 youth, but are, I believe, invariably to be found on plants of all ages. 

 We shall also find that the fertile fronds perish in the early months of 

 winter, and that decay is visible in them even in November ; and, 

 moreover-, that the barren fronds flourish uninjured, or mostly so, till 

 the following spring or summer. Now I think these facts, placed in 

 opposition to those known respecting the duration, &c., of L. multi- 

 flora, and spinosa are strong evidences of specific distinction, and will 

 fully justify botanists in retaining this pretty fern amongst their list of 

 Vol. IV. o 



