PREFACE 



IT is strange that the ferns, thiri distin- 

 guished by an infinite variety in the form and 

 division of their leaves and the elegant beauty 

 of their whole appearance, received so little 

 attention in the Bombay Presidency on the 

 part of botanists as well as of amateurs. 

 An explanation of the fact may be found in 

 the circumstance that just near the centres of 

 human commerce in the Presidency, the fern 

 vegetation is very scanty or almost nil. Other 

 parts with a rich growth of ferns are inacces- 

 sible to most of us during the tour rainy 

 months of the year, when plant-life is at its 

 best. A second reason might be the difficulty 

 that is generally experienced in the identifica- 

 tion of the members of this class of plants. 

 To obviate the latter difficulty we offer this 

 volume to the public. 



We have to thank Professor J. P. Mullan 

 for taking a number of photographs, Miss 

 Mercia Stanton, Mr. Jos. Fonseca and Mr. 

 Sutaria for the drawings and Miss Eileen 

 Kosario for the coloured pJates. 



E. BLATTKK, 

 J. F. D' ALMEIDA. 

 ST. XAVJKR'S COLLKGK, 

 February 2, 1922. 



