PREFACE 



Since the publication, six years ago, of " How to 

 Know the Wild Flowers," I have received such con- 

 vincing testimony of the eagerness of nature-lovers 

 of all ages and conditions to familiarize themselves 

 with the inhabitants of our woods and fields, and so 

 many assurances of the joy which such a familiarity 

 aSords, that I have prepared this companion volume 

 on " How to Know the Ferns." It has been my ex- 

 perience that the world of delight which opens 

 before us when we are admitted into some sort of 

 intimacy with our companions other than human is 

 enlarged with each new society into which we win 

 our way. 



It seems strange that the abundance of ferns 

 everywhere has not aroused more curiosity as to 

 their names, haunts, and habits. Add to this abun- 

 dance the incentive to their study afforded by the 

 fact that owing to the comparatively small number 

 of species we can familiarize ourselves with a large 



