334 PIGMY adder's tongue. 



and Portugal : now the tendency of these countries is to deve- 

 lope the growth of small British ferns : it is almost invariably 

 the case that our ferns grow out of knowledge, and receive new 

 names, in these more favoured climes. Asplenium Trichoma- 

 nes, A. Adiantum-nigrum, and Notolepeum Ceterach, are fami- 

 liar instances, and show that British ferns, under such altered 

 conditions, do not become depauperated. Then, as to period 

 of mature fructification : lusitanicum has reached perfection by 

 the middle of January, vulgatum by the middle of June : this 

 is a very marked discrepancy. The question of identity is well 

 worth entertaining, but it is also one that must be treated with 

 the greatest caution, and the utmost singleness of ]3urpose, 

 truth being steadily kept in view, as the only desideratum. 



The varieties, so to call them, have been ah'eady noticed : 

 some individuals have two barren branches, or leaves, instead 

 of one, in which case the exterior or lower one is lanceolate, 

 the interior or upper one linear. The conversion of the apex 

 of a leaf into capsules must be regarded rather as a morpholo- 

 gical monstrosity than a variety. 



€nltun, 



Mr. Wolsey, not being aware of the probably parasitical 

 nature of the Ophioglossacese, has taken great care to free the 

 roots of his plants from the surrounding grasses : I have never 

 seen living botanical specimens more delicately extricated from 

 the surrounding fibres, or more perfectly free from all injury, 

 and my plants still look healthy, though I much doubt whether 

 I shaU find them making a second appearance above the surface 

 of the soil. 



