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same. Many older fern hunters can eclipse my list, utterly; one, 

 Mr. James Morley, residing in Dorsetshire, having found no less 

 than 600 well marked and constant forms, while his late neighbor, 

 Dr. Wells, found some hundreds more— all, be it observed, grow- 

 ing absolutely wild among the common or normal forms. Classi- 

 fying my finds and omitting dates, which are superfluous, they 

 stand as follows : 



Blechnum spicant : varieties cincinnum, polydactylum, stric- 

 tum, contractum, subcruciatum, crispatum, revolvens, congestum, 

 anomalum, trinervium, analepis. 



Athyrium filix-fcemina : varieties oreopteroides, laceratum, 

 cristatum, medeodericiens, deltoideum, revolvens, candata-cru- 

 ciata. 



Dryopteris filix-mas : varieties polydactyla, cristata, 

 medeodeficiens, gracile. 



Dryopteris montana : varieties cristata-gracile, depauperata, 

 truncata, congesta. variegata. 



Dryopteris dilatata: varieties polydactyla, stipitato-lacin- 



iata. 



Scolopendrium vulgare : varieties corymbiferum, grandi- 

 ceps, traverso-cristatum, marginatum, lobatum. 



Asplenium trichomanes : varieties cristatum, depauperatum. 



Poly podium vulgare: varieties marginatum, bipinnatum, 

 minimum, longipinnatum. 



Polystichum angulare : varieties deficiens, sublinearis. 

 Curiously, though, this species has been particularly generous in 

 varieties. I have found nothing thoroughbred. 



I must add to my list two varieties found in the Azores 

 (Fayal) in a very short search, viz., Pteris aquilina polydactyla y 

 and Asplenium hemeonitis cristata. 



In considering the above list it must be borne in mind that my 

 opportunities for fern hunting are confined entirely to the two or 

 three weeks' autumn vacation. No year has been absolutely bar- 

 ren of results and in some I have been particularly fortunate. To 

 those, therefore, residing in ferny districts of India, I cannot too 

 warmly recommend a similar search, feeling sure that it will be 

 similarly rewarded. The species lover cannot afford to ignore 

 varieties, and if the sub-varieties (as I should call them), which 

 are frequently noted, are worthy of notice, surely still more so 

 are those marvelous instances where nature goes a step further 

 and absolutely transforms specific types on altogether new and 

 more beautiful lines. I need hardly say that I would be very 

 happy to receive fronds of such finds and to give an opinion 

 thereon, but I should like to receive them in good form. 



Acton, London, W. 



