INTRODUCTORY KEMARKS. XV 



little book, we have followed the arrangement and 

 names given by Mr. Bentham in his " Handbook of 

 the British Flora," with the exception of one or two 

 varieties which he does not give. 



The synonyms given to each species are intended 

 as a guide to those who wish to read further about the 

 plant, and refer to the names under which it may be 

 found in the works of our chief botanists ; otherwise 

 there would often be difficulty in recognizing the same 

 species under another name. 



Messrs. Bradbury's beautiful but expensive volume 

 of " Nature-Printed Ferns " is most valuable as a book 

 of reference in the naming of species. We would 

 also refer to " The Ferns of Great Britain," by Miss 

 Anne Pratt, Mr. Moore's little " Handbook of British 

 Ferns," Mr. Sowerby's volume on the " Ferns of Great 

 Britain," and Mr. Newman's complete and exhaustive 

 work on " British Ferns." To those who really in- 

 tend to make a study of this branch of botany, we 

 would recommend any or all of these volumes. 



