vi 



PREFACE. 



Author, it is deemed necessary to rectify here an error which has crept 

 in. This relates to the discovery of " Apospory," a newly-observed form of 

 reproduction, which, at page 141 of Vol. I., is attributed to Mr. Mapplebeck, 

 and at page 547 to Mr. G. B. WoUaston, but the true nature of which 

 was first detected and demonstrated by Mr. Chas. T. Druery, who reported 

 upon it in a paper read before the Linnean Society on June 19th, 1884. 

 In the autumn of that year he exhibited plants and fresh material which 

 led to further investigation by Prof. F. 0. Bower, who fully coiifh^med 

 Mr. Druery's observations, first in a short paper which embodied Mr. G. B. 

 Wollaston's fresh discovery of Apical Apospory, and subsequently in an 

 exhaustive monograph published by the Linnean Society. Mr. Mapplebeck's 

 discovery related to dorsal bulbils on Asplenium Filix-fcemina, a quite 

 distinct phenomenon. 



The generic hmitation as laid down by Hooker and Baker in their 

 " Synopsis Filicum," which work was a constant guide in the compilation 

 of Vol. I. of " The Book of Choice Feens," has been strictly adhered 

 to in this volume, which, it is hoped, will give equal satisfaction to all 

 interested in the subject. 



GEOEGE SCHNEIDER. 



17, Ieield Eoad, 



West Brompton, S.W. 



