672 



good were immediately administered ; but before midnight the three 

 Hottentots and one woman had died, in excruciating agonies. The 

 male slave was got through, although for a year afterwards he looked 

 like a skeleton ; and the surviving woman ascribed her safety to only 

 having ate one bulb." 



O71 Lastrea cristata and its Allies. By Thomas Moore, Esq., 



F.L.S.* 



Some time since, in writing of the Lastrea uliginosa of Newman, I 

 stated an opinion that it was more nearly allied to the species known 

 as L. cristata than to that known as L. spinulosa, though intermediate 

 between them ; and, acting on this opinion, I ranged it as a variety 

 of the former. Subsequently, and with apparent reference to the ex- 

 pression of this opinion, this so-called new fern has been publicly 

 stated to have nothing to do with L. cristata, and that, if ranged as a 

 variety at all, it must be under L. spinulosa. My opinion was not 

 altered by this statement ; and, having since continued to watch the 

 appearances presented by the three plants, above referred to, under cul- 

 tivation, I have not subsequently found reason to adopt any materially 

 diflFerent view. On the contrary, having cultivated them under cir- 

 cumstances exactly correspondent, the plants themselves, as it appears 

 to me, clearly confirm the opinion I had expressed ; and they are now 

 exhibited for the information of those members who may not have had 

 other opportunities of noticing their peculiarities. On this point I 

 leave the plants to speak for themselves. 



I have stated that my opinion has undergone no material change. 

 I should perhaps have said that the view I now adopt is not opposed to 

 that formerly held ; for I must confess to a change of opinion having 

 occurred, inasmuch as repeated observation of the growth of the plants 

 has convinced me that all three ought to be considered as forms of 

 one species, there being no clear and satisfactory marks by which to 

 distinguish them. This opinion, which I have for some time formed, 

 from observations on the growing plants, in a cultivated state, has just 

 been unexpectedly corroborated on opening the third volume of Mr. 

 Watson's valuable ' Cybele Britannica,' where I find the same view, 

 apparently founded on experience of the wild plants, expressed by 



, * Read before the Botanical Society of London. 



