INTRODUCTION . 
The following list of Ceylon Ferns &c., contains those only 
known to be indigenous to the Island, and therefore does not include 
several species given in the “ Synopsis Filicum ” as natives of Ceylon, 
because these have not hitherto been found by the Director of the Royal 
Gardens at Peradeniya, nor by other Botanists who have made extensive 
collections of Ferns in the Island ; but a few, believed to be well marked 
species, though included as synonyms of others or ignored, in the “ Synopsis 
Filicum’’ — such as Hymenophyllum Blumeanum, Spr., and Nephrodium 
(Sagenia) Thwaitesii, Beddome, — are retained in this list as distinct 
species. 
The arrangement of the Genera, and the Nomenclature adopted in the 
tc Synopsis Filicum,” are widely different from those in Thwaites’ “Enumeratio 
Flantarum Zeylanice ;” but believing that the dormer is at present the 
best single work on all known Ferns, I have adopted its arrangement 
and nomenclature. 
The means and materials at my disposal for preparing this list have 
been so ample, that I have been enabled, I believe, to identify all the Ferns 
in my own collection which correspond with the names here given, with 
very few exceptions, if any. These materials consist of the list of Ferns 
&c., in “ Enumeratio Flantarum Zeylanice”’, reference to a very full 
set of Ceylon Ferns, named, and their C. P. numbers added to them, by 
the Director of the Royal Gardens, Peradeniya ; Major Beddome’s “ Ferns of 
Southern India and Ceylon ,” and the “ Ferns of British India,” the “ Synopsis 
Filicum ” already referred to, and several other works specially on Ferns. 1 
have also had the advantage of receiving small collections of dried Ferns from 
L.A. Bernays, Esq., F. L. S. Hon. Secretary Acclimatization Society &c. 
Queensland ; Lady Barkly, Mauritius ; from the Cape of Good Hope, and a few 
from St. Helena, and Scotland. Major Beddome’s two works on Indian and 
Ceylon Ferns contain lithographed figures of nearly all Ferns hitherto found 
in Ceylon, and they are generally so characteristic and well done, that in 
most cases I had little trouble in identifying the Ferns in my collection with 
their aid. I have also had the advantage of receiving a few named and 
numbered specimens of Ceylon Ferns from the Director of the Royal Gar- 
dens at Peradenia, and from T, W, N. Beckett, Esq., F. L.S., for my private 
use. From Major Hutchison I have received specimens of several rare Ceylon 
Ferns, and added many to my collection in a trip made to Hewissa in 
the direction of the Hayco'ck some months ago in company with this 
gentleman.— To Messrs. J. C. Elliott, J. Catto, Wm. Cotton, R. Porter 
E. Heelis, J. Bagra, J. D. Young, Arthur Thomas, and several other 
friends I am much indebted for specimens of Ferns from various parts 
of the island, and to Mr. A. H. Thomas of Mattakelle, Dimboola, lam 
most particularly indebted for very ample collections of Ferns sent to 
me from the Kallibokka valley and elsewhere. My trips in company with 
Mr. Thomas to the Wattakelle, and other ranges in this valley, up the 
Raxawa mountain, in Dolosbagie, in Dimboola, and from thence to Neura 
