POPULAR 

 niSTOEY OF BEITISn FEENS. 



INTRODUCTION. 



There are several causes •whicli conduce to render the 

 native Ferns of Great Britain attractive objects of study. 

 Of these we will mention the following : — 



1. They are for the most part objects of exquisite ele- 

 gance ; and this is apparent, whether they are superficially 

 examined as to their external appearance, or whether they 

 are investigated anatomically, with the view to discover 

 and analyze their minute structure. 



2. They are not very numerous, nor very inaccessible, 

 and consequently their study opens a field which even those 

 who have not much leisure may hope to compass, and for 

 which the greater part, at least, of the materials may be 

 obtained without much difficulty. 



B 



