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the same?" ''How can you remember all the hard names?" 

 I answer, yes. Of species there are in Britain 44 and in 

 Ireland 33, yet the varieties of these are unlimited. If you 

 look at them closely it is quite plain there are well-marked 

 differences. The names are comparatively easy to remember, 

 as in most cases they are derived from Latin or Greek words, 

 which describe some prominent form, and constant use soon 

 improves the memory. These questions having been asked 

 me at Woodburn excursion by one of the members, as we 

 walked through a green lane with ferns on both sides, I 

 pulled a frond of Lastrea dilatata. After examining this I 

 pulled another frond of Athyrium., and, putting them side 

 by side, the differences were very marked. Then fronds 

 were successively pulled of Lastrea, Polystichum angulare, 

 Polypodium, &c., and, arranging them in a line, the differ- 

 ences were plainly seen. Shortly after a very fine plant of 

 Polystichum aculeatum was found, and, on it being suggested 

 that it should be taken by one of the ladies, a learned Pro- 

 fessor of the party extracted it from its habitat among the 

 roots of the thorn hedge. A very nice attenuated form of 

 Athyrium was found close by, which was also taken. These 

 episodes furnished the idea of this short paper on some of 

 the numerous varieties of British ferns, many of which are 

 to be found growing wild, and others raised artificially by 

 sowing mixed spores of various varieties. It is really astonish- 

 ing how few people, even among plant lovers, are aware that 

 in our British ferns and their varieties we have something 

 absolutely unique in the world, and unparalleled anywhere 

 outside our little group of islands. We have such a wealth 

 of beautiful ferns at our disposal; but on the principle that 

 a prophet has no honour in his own country we practically 

 ignore the gift it constitutes at the hand of beneficent nature. 

 We admire the beauty of the lovely exotic ferns which have 

 been introduced, but it is a ridiculous state of things that a 

 charming fern found abroad is eagerly snatched up, while an 

 equally fine thing found in our native fern haunts is abso- 

 lutely ignored except by the coterie of enthusiasts. Our 



