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to take a concrete example, suggests the possibility of 

 infusing the pretty cresting of our native Asplenium 

 Trichomanes even into the grand Asplenium nidus-avis, 

 or many others of the large family of the exotic Spleen- 

 worts, which by the way are peculiarly constant and non- 

 sportive in themselves. , In this particular connection 

 too, and especially in allusion to A. nidus-avis, our native 

 Hartstongue, Scolopendrium vulgare, which has perhaps 

 afforded more distinct varieties than any other species, 

 might well be used. That it is closely allied to the 

 Spleenwort is seen in its linear fructification, and the fact 

 that although these are always in faced pairs, while that of 

 the Spleenwort is assumed to be single, there are exceptions 

 to the rule in the latter family, faced pairs precisely of the 

 Scolopendrium type occurring frequently in A. hemionitis, 

 while they have been noted in varietal forms of A. 

 marinum. In these genera, then, there are obviously 

 many openings for alliance, which by the way there is 

 strong evidence to prove has already been affected in the 

 case of S. vulgare and A. Ceterach. 



In the Polypodium family, likewise a large one, there 

 are many fine forms which, allied with the many types 

 of P. vulgare, would be very handsome, as evidenced by 

 P. Schneideri. In the Polystichums, also, there are many 

 exotics which are evidently very closely akin to our native 

 species, P. lonchitis, P. aculeatum, and P. angulare ; and 

 as most of the very finest plumose forms of the latter 

 bear spores, there is ample material to work upon. In 

 that beautiful lucent-fronded evergreen P. setosum alone 

 there is an invaluable subject for hybridisation. Our 

 Blechnum spicant is another species which has varied 

 considerably on pretty lines, and has numerous foreign 

 relatives which have not done so, and yet might be 

 induced to do under persuasion of marriage ; while the 

 Lastreas or Nephrodiums, though apt to be apogamic — 



