ONYCHIOPSIS. onl 
specimens also show a similar passage from the fertile part of a 
pinna to a terminal serrate portion, as represented in the fossil 
specimens, Pl. III. Figs. 2-4. Onychium Japonicum, Kunze, also 
agrees very well with the fossil species. 
These resemblances appear to me amply sufficient to justify the 
adoption of the name Onychiopsis in place of Sphenopteris, in spite 
of the fact that we are unable to decide how far the sporangia 
support this reference to the Polypodiacee. 
Fertile fronds of Cryptogramme crispa, R. Br., also approach 
fairly closely in appearance to those of O. Mantelli, but the likeness 
is much less pronounced than in the case of Onychium. 
Since writing the above I have found that the Marquis of Saporta 
has recorded the occurrence of fertile specimens of Sphenopteris 
Mantelli at Quinta-do-Leirido,! and other localities in Portugal; 
he considers that the fructification agrees most closely with that 
of Davallia, especially D. gibberosa, Sw.2. My thanks are due to 
the Marquis of Saporta for some further details as to the Mesozoic 
flora of Portugal which he has very kindly communicated to me. 
In a letter recently received (December 30, 1893), he states his 
opinion that the reference of Sphenopteris Mantelli to the recent 
genus Davallia seems to be more natural than that of Yokoyama, 
who refers the closely-allied species, S. elongata, to Onychium; at 
the same time Saporta does not consider the question as definitely 
settled. In the forthcoming monograph on the Mesozoic flora of 
Portugal we shall have plates and detailed descriptions, which will 
enable us to consider more fully the rival claims of Davallia and 
Onychium as to which is the most nearly allied genus to the widely 
distributed Wealden species. Meanwhile, I do not wish to alter 
my opinion that the evidence afforded by the English specimens 
is distinctly in favour of the substitution of Onychiopsis for 
Sphenopteris, as expressing the most probable relation of the fossil 
fern to the genus Onychium. 
V. 2189. Woodcut, Fig. 6. 
This specimen, with several others, e.g. V. 2188, V. 23142, etc., 
probably represents part of a rhizome of O. Mantelli. The surface 
1 Rev. gen. bot. vol. v. 1893, p. 272. 
* IT am unable to detect in fertile fronds of Davallia gibberosa any distinct 
resemblance to the fossil form. 
