( 7 ) 
Several of these are very common over large portions of the island, 
but others are so rare that perhaps only Mr. Beckett and Mr. Thwaites 
have hitherto been able to find them. 
The number of distinct species of Ferns enumerated in the “ Synopsis 
Filicum ” is about 2,235, so that in Ceylon our 225 species represent 
nearly one-tenth of those found on the surface of our globe, whilst Britain 
has only about 44 Species of Ferns, or about l-5th of the number we have in 
Ceylon, or about l_50th of all the Ferns hitherto discovered. 
A collection of specimens of about 100 to 150 species of Ceylon Ferns 
may seem a small affair when made up in one packet, but I think I 
may safely assert that it would take an ordinary Collector of Ferns 
about six years to make such a collection, and cost him an amount of trouble 
and expense both in journeying and in money that he could not at all 
calculate upon. 
Numbers are added to the Ferns corresponding with those in my private 
Collection. It is hoped that these Nos. will be found useful for future 
reference. 
Nos. 1 to 225 contain the true Ferns in their order, according to 
the “ Synopsis Filicum Nos. 226 to 239 contain the Lycopods ; and Nos. 
240 to 242 the Marsileads according to “ Enumeratio Plantarum Zeylanioe.” 
Whilst No. 243 is certainly one species of Horsetail, which grows 
abundantly on the road-side below Hackgalla and elsewhere in the 
island. 
I annex one or two examples of Descriptions and Remarks in full for 
some species of our Ceylon Ferns from the “ Synopsis Filicum” with my own 
remarks respecting their places of growth in Ceylon, and other particulars which 
I believe would be found useful by Collectors of Ferns, growers of Ferns 
here, or other persons interested in the subject of Ceylon Ferns ; and if suffi- 
cient subscribers to pay the cost of such a more amplified Work will send me 
their names, I shall undertake the immediate publication of an Account of our 
Ceylon Ferns on this plan, adding Explanations of the terms used in describing 
Ferns, with full instructions for Collecting, Drying, and Cultivating them. My 
present list has merely brief familiar notes added to the Botanical names. 
(Examples of Fuller Description and Remarks referred to.) 
“ CEYLON FERNS. 
“ 62. — Pteris quadriaurita, Retz ; Synopsis Filicum, p. 158, No. 22. 
st. 1-2 ft. 1., strong, erect, naked or slightly scabrous, straw-coloured or 
brownish ; fr. 6 in. to 2 or 3 ft. 1., 4 in. to 1 ft. or more br., with a ter- 
minal central pinna cut down nearly to the rachis into numerous close pa- 
rallel linear-oblong lobes §-l in. 1., 2-3 lin. br, the barren ones entire or 
slightly serrated, and below this several similar pinnoe on both sides, which 
are 6-12 in. or more 1., 1-2 in. br,, the lowest 1-2 in. apart at the base, 
usually again compound, with one or two similar but smaller pinnl. branching 
from them at the base on the lower side ; texture subcoriacenus ; rachis and both 
surfaces naked ; veins conspicuous, usually once forked, 1 lin. to l-8th in. apart at 
