XVI INTRODUCTION. 



each commences on a right-hand page, and each has the Eng- 

 lish name below the figure : the doubts respecting these four are 

 expressed in the text. A grade lower stiU in the scale of im- 

 portance are seven others, which are distinguished by a dagger : 

 these are Asplenium tacutum, Polystichum fangulare, Lopho- 

 dium tcollinum, Amesium tgermanicum, Lophodium fglandu- 

 losum, Botrychium trutaceum, and Lophodium fuligiaosum : 

 these are distinguished in the text by a dagger prefixed to the 

 English name, and by the English name always, and a portion 

 of the text often, preceding the figure. The lowest grade bear- 

 ing generic and specific names, comprises such forms as Diy- 

 opteris affinis, Dryopteris Borreri, and Dryopteris abbreviata, 

 all placed under D. Filix-mas ; Athyrium molle, Athyrium 

 convexum, and Athyrium incisum, all placed under A. Filix- 

 femina. 



The names of species are intended to be in strict accordance 

 with the law of priority. Alpina of Bolton is prior to hyper- 

 borea of Liljeblad ; Ceterach of Linneus is prior to ofiicuiarum 

 of Willdenow ; Fcenisecii of Lowe is prior to recurvum of 

 Bree ; germanicum of "Weiss is prior to alternifolium of Wul- 

 fen ; montana of Vogler is prior to Oreopteris of Ehrhart ; 

 Myrrhidifolium of ViUars is prior to montanum of Allioni ; 

 AUioni, moreover, had no right to introduce a second Polypo- 

 dium montanum : radicans of Swartz is prior to speciosum of 

 Willdenow ; Eobertianum of Hoifmann is prior to calcareum 

 of Smith; Scolopendrium of Linneus is prior to vulgare of 

 Symons, (alas, what a falling off was here !) ; Spicant of Lin- 

 neus is prior to boreale of Swartz ; and unilateral of WUl- 

 denow is prior to Wilsoni of Hooker. Botanists will adopt 

 these names or not, at their option : I endeavour to point out 

 the right path, but have neither the power nor the inclination 

 to compel others to take it. 



