PREFACE. 



'T^HIS handbook is a digest of the information on Indian 

 ■*■ Ferns contained in Sir W. Hooker's " Species Filicum," 

 the " Synopsis Filicum," Mr. J. Smith's " Historia Filicum," 

 also of Mr. Clarke's " Ferns of Northern India," and of the 

 author's works, "The Ferns of Southern India" and "The 

 Ferns of British India." 



The author's former works were compiled in India, 

 without access to libraries or to any herbarium with 

 typical specimens. He has now had the advantage of going 

 thoroughly through the Wallichian ferns at the Linnaean, 

 the large collections at Kew and in the British Museum, 

 and of comparing his own collections with typical forms ; 

 he is, besides, indebted for much assistance to Messrs. 

 Baker and Clarke, especially in the determination of all 

 critical forms, so that he has been able, he believes, to 

 clear up many doubts and to correct many errors. 



