Hawaiian Ferns. 121 



ing ferns cover the otherwise naked trunks of palms and other 

 trees, while many species grow imbedded in moss. 



Of the 129 species known to grow upon these islands, 10 only 

 are found in North America wild, five of which are native to Cali- 

 fornia. Many of the others are restricted to certain islands, and 

 on those islands to certain localities. It is said of the climate of 

 this group that, although the temperature is remarkably equable, 

 yet as many climates may be found as there are square leagues. 



On the windward side of the mountains, rain often falls to ex- 

 ceed 200 inches in a year, while the leeward side is generally arid 

 and comparatively barren. One peculiarity is, that among the 

 great number of ferns, only one species of the Maiden Hair is 

 found — Adiantum Capillus- veneris. 



* Notes on Hawaiian ferns, compiled from the works of Hooker, Baker, Bailey, and others, by 

 L. G. Yates, Santa Barbara, Cal., 1887. 15 pp., 5^4x354 inches. Price 50 cents. 



THE FERNS OF CEYLON. * 



The island of Ceylon is situated between 5 deg., 51 min. and 9 

 deg. , 51 min. north latitude, and between 79 deg., 41 min., 40 

 sec and 81 deg., 54 min., 50 sec. east longitude, and has an area 

 of about 25,000 square miles. 



The southern portion of the island consists of an interior moun- 

 tainous region surrounded by a low coast line of from 30 to 80 

 miles in width. The mountain zone covers an area of about 

 4,000 miles. The highest mountain is 8,295 feet in altitude. 

 The rivers in this region are bordered by a dense growth of 

 forest- and diversified with innumerable cascades and rapids, 

 flowing through deep chasms, whose rocky walls furnish admir- 

 able conditions for fern growth, where they grow on the rocks 

 and trees, especially in the central and southern provinces. The 

 northern portion of the island forms a vast unbroken plain. 



The summits of the highest ridges are covered with verdure, 

 and the slopes were formerly covered with forests of lofty trees 

 which have disappeared under the axe of the coffee planter. 



The climate of the island is regulated by the monsoons. The 

 southwest monsoon prevails along the southwest coast in early 

 summer; the northeast monsoon reaches the northeast coast 

 about October or November. The former drives the clouds 

 against the lofty mountains of the south and west, supplying 

 copious rains which do not reach the eastern and northern por- 

 tions of the island. The effect of the northeast monsoon are 

 more uniform, and the showers extend over the entire surface of 

 the island. At Ratnapura, lying immediately under Adam's 

 Peak, the annual rainfall is about 146 inches, and the number of 

 rainy days, 228; while at Badulla, at an altitude of 2,220 feet, the 

 amount of rain is about 58 inches, with 57 rainy days. This wide 

 difference of climatic conditions eives suitable conditions for 



