2 T 



that of the proposed division of Lastvea filix mas into three 

 distinct species. I still ride over the same ground rough- 

 shod, and shall continue to do so, until some such learned 

 and benevolent Society as your own convinces me that I 

 am wrong. 



I now lay before you a diagram* of what I believe to be 

 three distinct species of Lastrea, with the names I propose 

 for the two new ones, Lastvea pvcpinqua and Lastvea pseudo 

 mas, showing many diagnostics peculiar to each in juxta- 

 position, so that you may the more readily judge of their 

 difference of structure, shape, durability and localities in 

 which they are found, etc., etc. I am fully aware that 

 these diagnostics are not wholly scientific and botanical, 

 but I trust you will think them of sufficient importance to 

 enable me to unravel a knot which has at present defied 

 all Pteridologists. Whether or not I shall be the happy 

 man to do so I leave entirely in the hands of the Society 

 to decide. 



We will now, if you please, take each item of the 

 diagram seriatim, and you will observe that in ist Column 

 the order of development (that is the first appearance of 

 the new fronds) Lastvea pvopinqua is first, Lastvea filix mas 

 second, and Lastvea pseudo mas third ; and this, under 

 similar conditions, has been the same almost without 

 variation for nearly twenty years. 



In the 2nd Column the vernation or unfolding of the 

 fronds is very striking. In the first, Lastvea pvopinqua, it 

 is circinate ; and in the two last, Lastvea filix mas and 

 and Lastvea pseudo mas, pediiform, or like a shepherd's 

 crook, sufficiently different for the eye to detect, but hardly 

 to be described in language. 



The 3rd Column you will find contains by far the best 

 and most constant diagnostics of the three forms, and 



*£es appended Chart. 



