310 Bibliographical Notices. 



of H. Tunhridgense. In the perfect specimens from Mr. Clowes 

 the cells are generally polygonal, often hexangular, whereas they 

 are frequently quite round or oval in my more stunted plants. 

 This variation is such as might be expected from the more or 

 less distention of the cells, as the round and oval forms are well 

 known to become angular from mutual pressure in luxuriant 

 growth . 



And now, from an examination of the tissue-cells of the invo- 

 lucres of these plants, it results that in them also there is a 

 difference of size, similar to that in the leaf-cells. After repeated 

 comparisons of the involucre-cells of the two plants, it was found 

 that these cells are regularly the largest in H. Wilsoni, and that 

 the two species could be easily distinguished by this character 

 alone, as may be seen in figures 1 & 2. 



The spores also were larger in these plants of H. Wilsoni than 

 in H. Tunhridgense. But as the spores were mostly misshapen, 

 though some of them seemed perfect, they should be carefully 

 compared in fresh and mature plants before we conclude that 

 this difference of size is regular and constant. Figures 3 & 4 

 will show the comparative sizes as I saw them in the plants from 

 Mr. Clowes. 



Probably sufficient evidence has now been adduced to show 

 that the cells both of the involucres and leaves may be available 

 as specific characters in Hymenophyllacese. In Trichomanes 

 radicans the leaf-cells are nearly like those of Hymenophylhmi 

 Wilsoni, and consequently larger than those of H. Tunhridgense. 



Edenhridge, Sept. 17, 1863. 



BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 



The Angler-Naturalist : a Popular History of British Freshwater 

 Fish; with a plain Explanation of the Rudiments of Ichthyology. 

 By H. Cholmondeley Pennell. London : Van Voorst. 

 1863. 12mo. 

 When old Izaak Walton published his * Complete Angler,' it was 

 his endeavour to bring together all the scientific knowledge of his 

 time connected with Fish and fishing ; and, absurd as many of his 

 tales appear to us, they were undoubtedly vouched for in his day by 

 naturalists of high authority. But even these erroneous statements 

 have often a charm, partly from the quaintness with which they are 

 related, and partly from the perfect good faith with which they are 

 woven into the narrative ; and Walton's book was certainly, at the 

 time of its publication, a mine of information upon natural history, 

 in the angling point of view, such as has never since been equalled. 

 Indeed in most of our angling-books the descriptions of the habits 

 of Fish are borrowed more or less directly from Walton ; and some 



