present ; for although in these matters, some novel 
schemes have been proposed, yet the suggestions 
which have been made, appear to be little else than 
ingenious devices tending to render the study of 
the British Ferns more difficult and involved, and 
rather induce a desire to return to Linnajan sim- 
plicity than a disposition to follow the mazy paths 
of modern innovation. 
The peculiarities of venation in the more com- 
pound ferns, being more or less affected by the 
luxuriance of the plants, and more or less varied 
in different parts of the fronds, it should be re- 
collected, in making use of the following pages, 
that the basal pinnules on the pinnse near the centre 
of a frond of average size, have been selected for 
description, unless it is otherwise expressed. 
The author gladly avails himself of this oppor- 
tunity to thank all those who have kindly favoured 
him either with criticisms of his statements or 
with specimens for examination, and trusts for a 
continuance of similar communications. 
CHELSEA, Aug. 31, 1853. 
