103 



distinct species of Fern, this being one of them. Another 

 very much lacerated, fimbriated and crisp form is S. v. 

 cri spurn Dvummondac, originally found by Miss Drummond. 

 5. v. Kelways densum is the most outrageous thing in this 

 line we noted. The plant keeps on developing fronds or 

 segments about i in. long and ^th in. wide, forming a 

 tuft like a small Selaginella, a moss or a Jungermannia, 

 and totally unlike a Hartstongue. One has no conception 

 of what this could mean or represent in the life history of 

 the species. Quite a large and old piece can be grown 

 under an inverted tumbler. 5. v. Comensii produces many 

 round-headed fronds upon a single stalk, and the whole 

 •stand? about 6 in. high. The fronds of S. v. cvispum Wills 

 measure 5 in. and more across, and in our opinion it con- 

 stitutes one of the most handsomely crisped and crested 

 forms in the species. It ought to be grown in quantity 

 for decorative purposes in private gardens. Another very 

 •singular form is S. v. cvistatum vivipavum O' Kelly, which is 

 heavily crested at the apex, and irregularly proliferous on 

 the upper surface, the small protuberances or bulbils 

 -gradually becoming plants. 5. v. supvalineatum is notable 

 for the presence of a raised line on either side of the mid- 

 rib, its significance being undetermined. 



Turning now for a glance at the multifarious forms of 

 the Hard Fern (Blechnum Spicant) we felt greatly interested 

 in the beautiful form named B. 5. continuum Dvuevy, in all 

 probability never detected by human eye till Mr. Druery 

 spotted it on Exmoor in 1881. He was at once charmed 

 by its distinctness and graceful form ; and if he was an 

 admirer of Ferns previous to that time, he henceforth became 

 a most ardent and resolute enthusiast. It was in fact the 

 turning point of his career, when he changed from an 

 ordinary or casual observer, and developed into a specialist 

 of the most pronounced character; and since then has 

 been so successful not only in finding new and remarkable 



