Vlll PREFACE. 



for the most part avoided, as being calculated to perplex 

 rather than instruct those who are but acquiring the 

 rudiments of the subject. Abstruse questions of identity 

 or of specific distinctions have also been regarded as 

 foreign to the purposes of this " History." 



The present Edition will be found to contain notices of 

 the more striking of the njimerous varieties which are now 

 known to occur among the British Ferns. The species 

 which have been added to our Flora since the earlier edi- 

 tion was prepared, are now described, and figures of them 

 have been added. The list of localities has moreover 

 received very numerous additions, for which the Author 

 has to thank many kind Correspondents, whose names will 

 be found therein recorded. 



The Author has not, indeed, found space, neither did 

 the design of the Book seem to render it desirable, to 

 mention, much less describe, all the variations from the 

 normal forms of the species which have been observed, — 

 variations of which some of our Ferns have proved very 

 prolific. Those readers who are desirous of more extended 



