2 WHERE TO FIND FERNS. 



tions, of all the species of British ferns ; and to go 

 over again the ground thus occupied and occupied, 

 too, by other writers would be unnecessary, and it 

 would be also impossible, obviously, to give either the 

 elaborate illustration or the information in those works 

 within the space of the present one, which is merely 

 intended to supply, within the narrowest possible limits, 



indications of the habitats and of the distribution 

 throughout the country of our British ferns. 



The Author is unaware of the existence of any similar 

 volume with just the aim of this one ; and hence its 

 raison-ffetre. Fern-hunting, to lovers of ferns, is one of 

 the most delightful of pastimes. It gives zest to any 

 country walk, because it adds the attraction of a hobby 

 to the pleasure of being out of doors. Life, in the 

 present age, is far too sedentary, and there exists too 



