POPULAR 

 HISTORY OF BRITISH FERNS. 



INTRODUCTION. 



THERE are several causes which conduce to render the 

 native Perns of Great Britain an attractive object 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 analyse 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. 



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