PREFACE. IX 



information on this part of the subject, are referred to the 

 Author's '■' Handbook of British Ferns," and to the text 

 and figures in the " Ferns of Great Britain and Ireland, 

 Nature-printed/' The search for varieties of the British 

 Ferns has become so unexpectedly successful, that the 

 modifications of form which it is found are assumed by 

 some of the species, furnish important evidence 'against 

 species-making — the bane of modern Botany. Those 

 readers who may be fortunate enough to find curious and 

 distinct varieties, would oblige the Author by communi- 

 cating specimens of them, in illustration of this branch 

 of the subject. 



The Author may take this occasion to mention that he 

 will be glad to receive the continued assistance of his 

 readers in ascertaining the actual distribution, throughout 

 Great Britain and Ireland, of the various forms assumed 

 by certain of the disputed and difl&cult species, whose 

 range is not as yet well known, e. g. those of A thyrium 

 Filix-fmniina, Lastrea spinulosa and dilatata, and Poly- 

 stichum aculeatum and angulare, &c. He has only further 



