iv. PREFATORY NOTICE. 
greatly in iistant habitats that even the old practised hand 
is often led astray, and to the European botanist this must be 
particularly confusing. Where forms of very distinctive 
growth have been met with, such may be and very likely are 
only very rare sports of old known plants; that such is the 
case we have only to think of the many wonderful forms which 
have been brought to our knowledge from various localities, 
and some of which are now not uncommon in garden culiure. 
Finally, I think that had Prof. Domin had a longer 
experience with our ferns, and observed the great diversity of 
their form and growth, he would have realised that some of 
his new kinds were but growths of well-known species ; and 
it will be observed that attention has been drawn to some of 
these where it was thought necessary. 
F.M.B. 
October, 1913. 
