380 NOTE ON LASTREA SPINULOSA. 
illustration just cited, that no safe conclusion could be drawn 
even as to the specific identity, much less the generic affinity 
(for even to this the character has been applied) of the plant. 
Without doubt there are resemblances to be detected; and in 
species in which the bundles are not suspended, but united into | 
some peculiar form, there is less liability to such an amount of 
variation as would tend to mislead; but before the character 
could be relied on in distinguishing a species, there must be an 
assurance, which now there is not, (1) that the appearances pre- 
sented by these bundles in every specimen of a given species, 
will be constant, and (2) that dissimilarity of character will be 
presented by cognate species. Its use for any purpose of generic 
definition, so far as my observations go, is still further out of the 
question. 
One word on Mr. Wollaston’s microscopic characters derived 
from the spores (‘ Phytologist, p. 172). The figures given are 
different enough ; but the concluding remark, that an experienced 
microscopist could see no differences in them, at least between 
two of the forms, should stand as a warning to those who would 
place too much reliance on observations of this nature. In truth, 
though one cannot legitimately argue against the use of the 
microscope in distinguishing scientific objects, yet nevertheless, 
practically, chaos must prevail in scientific botany if we are to 
make species among plants, of the stature of our Filiz-mas, on 
characters which can only be found in their highly magnified _ 
spores. 
Note on Lastrea spinulosa.—As some of our writers on Ferns 
seem to persist in doubting the occurrence of the true Lastrea 
spinulosa in Scotland, it may be useful to those of your readers 
who do not see ‘The Ferns of Great Britain, Nature-printed,’ 
to be informed, that in‘ addition to the Dingwall habitat, re- 
corded in the ‘ Handbook of British Ferns,’ I have plants and 
specimens obtained from near Dunkeld by Mr. A. Tait; others 
from two habitats in Forfarshire, communicated by Mr. A. 
Croall; and others again collected by myself last summer in 
Dumbartonshire on the banks of Loch Lomond. Irish speci- 
mens of the same plants from the counties of Wicklow, West- 
meath, and Londonderry, have been sent to me by Mr. D. 
Moore, of Glasnevin. The plant alluded to above is that narrow 
