( 20 ) 
I examinee! several specimens of this Pern in the British Museum, col- 
lected by Hermann in Ceylon in 1660-6, Burmann’s Thea. zeyl. t. 5* figure 1. is 
a much more characteristic one than Bed. 1. t. 2. The nearly glabrous form, A. 
rhizophorum, Sw. is found in abundance in the jungle at the base of the hill 
near the residence of the Assistant G-overnment Agent at Kurunegalla, at Kandy, 
and on the Harragam Koad, and differs a good deal from the common and 
more tomentose form. Bed. 2. t. 17 is quoted as a synonym by Baker, 
and he thinks that Bed. 2. t. 19 is only a form of this fern. 
48. Adiantum Capillus — Veneris, Linn. 
Bed. 1. t. 4. Who does not know the common Maiden Hair Fern?; 
and yet it is frequently confounded in Colombo, with the A. concinnum, H. B. K. 
a native of tropical America, and which is more commonly cultivated than our 
native fern, and still more beautiful as its name would indicate and also with 
very fine tall specimens of the A. JEthiopicum, which is so like the Maiden Hair 
fern that they are constantly confounded. The common Maiden Hair, Pern is 
found growing in the mouth of the old tunnel a short distance from Kandy 
on the old Kurunegala road, and in great abundance and luxuriance on the banks 
of a rocky stream on the right hand side of the Badulla Koacl about two 
miles below Hackgalla. When collecting some in this place some years ago in 
company with A. H. Thomas, this gentleman found a snake, the poisonous 
Hypnale Nepa, if I recollect aright, wriggling through his fingers and his 
parcel of ferns, when he cooly caught him behind the head, and secured him. 
The finest specimens of this Fern and of A. TEthiopicum, I have ever seen 
were those grown by Captain Bailey of the P. and O. Company, under a covered 
place close to Galle. Some of the fronds growing in vegetable mould and 
amongst rock work here hung down to a length of two 't° thfee feet. Very 
,fine large specimens of the A. iEthiopicum fern are now not uncommon in pots 
in Colombo. 
49. Adiantum bispidulum, Sw. 
Bed. 1. t. 3. A common Fern in the forests of the interior, and on 
the moist banks of streams. The young smooth and thin fronds of this fern 
are very unlike the old mature ones, which are easily distinguished from the 
other species of the genus by their densely pubescent segments and racihses. 
' 50. Andiahtum flabellulatui n Linn. 
Bed. 1. t. 218. Found in the Ouvah district according to Thwaites, 
but I have never yet found it in a wild state. “The pinnules are larger and 
broader than those of A. hispiclulum, and only the raehis is finely pubescent.” — 
Baker. 
’ 51. Cheilanthes Mysurensis, Wall. 
Bed. 1. t. 190. This lovely tufted fern is found in great abundance 
growing in vegetable mould on the road side, and on thesurface of the rocks 
near the summit of Kurunegala rock. It grows freely in. the shade of other 
ferns in Colombo. Yerv great care is required to secure good dried specimens 
of this fern, and its ally, the Ceylon Silver Fern, C. farniosa, both of which 
curl up over the fruit along the edgbs unless the specimens are put into paper 
at once and dried under considerable pressure. This Fern js not likely to be con- 
founded with any other in Ceylon. In Mr. Wall’s notes on his catalogue of 
Ceylon Ferns, he states that this fern attains a most luxurious growth on the 
road from R ttotta to Oodelamana with fronds eighteen inches in height. 
52. Cheilanthes Thwaitesii, Kuhn. 
Bed. 1. t. 189. Said to be found in the Kurunegala district and Kallu- 
pane. It is a coarser and less divided fern than C. Mysurensis, and evidently is a 
rare fern in Ceylon, — Baker does not give C. varians as a Ceylon fern, but under C. 
fragilis, Hk. he remarks, — “from the Ceylonese C. 'laxa, Moore, it differs mainly 
by its tomentose raehis,”" but Thwaites quotes the C. laxa, Moore, as 
a synonym of C. varians. I - am indebted to Mr. Wall’s catalogue for 
the above name for ray No. 52. The following is Mr. Wall s note 
on it, “ C. Thwaitesii, Kuhn, — Dr. Kuhn, Linnea, volume xxxiv, page 
82, is of opinion jthat our Ceylon Species, hitherto referred to C. variaifs, Hk. 
