( ioi ) 
united are termed by Linneus a frond. The 
feed of the ferns affords an inftance of the 
mod curious mechanifm, and will be well 
worthy the attention of proficients in botany. 
All that is neceffary for ! the pupil in that 
fcience is an acquaintance with an outline of 
the characters of the ge'nera contained in the 
clafs Cryptogamia, of many of which a clear 
idea may be obtained by flu dying plates of 
their extraordinary ftrudiure given by various 
ingenious artifts. The true fago powder is 
faid to be made from the pith of a fpecies 
of fern, Cycas circhiaVis ; and that great ve- 
getable curiofity, the tartarian lamb, is now 
known to be the root of the polypodium 
barometz, which, being pulried out of the 
ground in it's horizontal fituation by fome of 
the inferior branches of the root, bears fome 
refemblance to a lamb {landing on four 
legs, which is increafed by the thick yellow 
down, by which it's root is covered. And* 
indeed, {lories fo extraordinary of the appear- 
ance of this fern have gained admiffion into 
the works of authors of fo much repute, as to 
have given the tale a degree of credibility far 
beyond it's deferts. 
Many things have gained the character of 
monfters from w r ant of that inveftigation, 
H 3 which 
