( 17 ) 
(Now D, Majuscula, Lowe) on the banks of the river above the Bambodde Rest 
House. 
This is a rare fern, and Mr. Wall says it grows to a height of 8 to 12 feet 
and probably dies off during part of the year. 
36. Davallia (Microlepia) majuscula, Lowe. 
Bed. 1. t. 254. Bedclome’s figure is from Ceylon specimens, which- were 
called D. (M.) proxima, Bl. but Blume’s specimens for this fern are supposed to 
be a, form of 'D. hirta, and therefore the Ceylon fern was described by Baker in 
Syn. fil. as Davallia (Microlepia) Thwaitesii, but Mr. Lowe’s name having 
priority of publication I suppose, is now adopted. I borrow this name from Mr. 
Wall’s Catalogue of Ceylon Ferns. — My specimens are from Major Hutchison, 
found above the Kangbodde Best House with No, 35. — Mr. Wall thinks this one, 
which is also a rare fern, dies off during a part of the year. 
37. Davallia (Microlepia) hiria, Kaulf. 
Bed. 1. t. 256. Every chapter of the Mahawansa, or great History of 
Ceylon, ends thus: — “ This Chapter was composed equally for the delight and afflic- 
tion of good men;”! but if the history of this Fern were known, it might with 
equal force be stated that it was first created, and next described as a distinct 
species, ‘ ‘ for the annoyance and discomfiture of good Pteridologists” ! A small 
specimen from Mr. Beckett, agrees with Beddome’s figure quoted above, but 
neither can be clearly- distinguished from forms of- the next species, No. 38. 
I have received specimens of D. (M.) hirta, from Major Hutchison, collected 
from a spot above .the Bambodde Best House, and my own collection was made 
in the belt of Forest through which the Dimboola road passes just beyopcl 
Cragie Lea, on the right hand side where the Collector has to scramble up the 
face of a steep cutting, to get to a path on each side of which this Fern 
grows in abundance.— As far as I can judge from a considerable collection made 
by myself in various parts of the interior, I feel nearly convinced that No. 34 
and this one. gradually run into each other, 34 being the younger, and 37 the 
older states . of this species. — For 34, Baker quotes two forms, wjirch the late 
Sir W. Hooker included in No. 38, and with reference to 37 Baker remarks.: — ■ 
“ This has the stature and habit of D. Speluncce, (No. 38) combined with the 
coriaceous texture' and prominent venation of D. strigosa. ” But why no less 
than six species in- the Syn. Fil. some of them very -distinct and different from 
34 and 37, separate these two species, I do not understand, surely those most 
like each other should be in close proximity in the order of description. — The 
following remarks by Major Beddome after the description of his figure here 
referred to, does not I fear lessen the difficulty in separating Nos. 34, 37, and 
38 : — “ I have long had this Fern in my herbarium, but until I received a 
“ specimen of it from Mr. Thwaites as an authentic spec, of M. liirta , I had al- 
“ ways considered it only as a variety of M. polypodieides, (No. 38.) I have 
“ lately collected on the Cour tall urn Hills (Tinnevelly,) what I take to be a 
“ third variety : it is very nearly allied to the Ceylon and Malabar M. hirta, 
“ but is more delicate — the secondary pinnules are narrower, the involucres are 
44 quite glabrous and the fronds nearly so.” 
When trying to separate my specimens of Nos. 34, 37 and 38 I found that forms 
of 34 or 37 and the remarkable C. P. 1388, for No. 38 were all mixed up together 
in the same packets. 
38. Davallia (Microlepia) Speluncas, Baker. 
Bed. 1. t. 15. This is one of the most common of our Ceylon Ferns, 
and a very general favorite in cultivation in Colombo. It is to be found in 
rich soil on road sides, and in damp shady places from the sea shore up to 
3,000 to 4,000 feet elevation. The common hairy form can scarcely be con- 
founded with any of our Ceylon Ferns. The fronds are from 3 to 6 feet in 
length. The C. P. 1388, an alpine form, is so different from the common one that 
I have mixed it up with Nos. 34 and 37, see the foregoing remarks. Baker re- 
marks : — “ This is much more tender in texture than D. strigosa and hirta, so 
much so, that the pinnas are liable to shrivel up when the plant is gathered 
