368 



anywhere else in England, where Loliuni teraulenlum ' is grown in 

 large quantities, probably with the nefarious object of adding to the 

 intoxicating quality of distilled or fermented liquors.' — P. 50. What 

 are the excise-people about ? " It is an old and true saying, that, as 

 we lead our lives, we are apt to judge our neighbours ; and on such 

 grounds only, I presume, the reviewer has more than hinted that I 

 myself forged this notice of the darnel ; but I can assure him that I 

 am not a member of his school ; and if he will look into the second 

 volume, page 200, of the seventh edition (which, I think, is the last) 

 of Withering's 'Arrangement,' he will find the following: — "The 

 laws of China make it a capital offence to use them" (the seeds of 

 Lolium temulentum) " in fermented liquors ; and yet, in the immedi- 

 ate vicinity of London, this noxious weed is cultivated hy the acre, 

 and it is to be apprehended for no better purpose." 



And this gentleman would condescend so far as to engage with me 

 in controversy ! The favour may, indeed, be more flattering than I 

 could expect; but, notwithstanding, I must beg leave, with all due 

 courtesy, to decline the honour. 



J. L. Drummond. 



Belfast, October 15, 1851. 



[Although I cannot approve some of the terms used by Dr. Drum- 

 mond in this communication, yet a spirit of strict impartiality (for 

 which my editorial management has, and I trust deserves, the credit), 

 and my own invitation on the wrapper of the last number, almost 

 enforce the propriety of printing Dr. Drummond's reply, as I have 

 done, verbatim et literatim. The subject must drop here. — Edward 

 Newman. '\ 



Proposed Addition of three new Species and three new Genera la 

 our List of British Ferns. By Edward Newman. 



Athyridm ovatum. Roth. 



For the earliest specimen in my possession, I am indebted to Miss 

 Beever, of Coniston, under date of 1842. The frond was one of a 

 number from the Lake district, which that lady most obligingly for- 

 warded when I was engaged on my ' History of British Ferns.' The 

 second specimen which reached me, was from Miss Wright, who 

 found the plant at Keswick, in 1846, and considered it as a species 



