INTRODUCTION TO BRITISH FERNS 1S3 
every British species of Fern — the variations from which are 
in reality hut monstrosities of a more or less constant and 
pronounced kind — together with an equally careful and 
exhaustive description of the habitats of these species. The 
search for varieties will he a curious and interesting pursuit 
for the lover of Ferns. But probably few of those Avho are 
not prepared to give up a lifetime to the study of the subject 
will care to burden their memories with more details relating 
to our native Ferns than those included within the succeed- 
ing chapters. When the eye is familiarized with the natural 
forms of the British species, little, if any, difficulty will he 
experienced in recognizing the departures from those forms. 
Under the head of ‘ Distribution ’ in each of the following 
descriptions the habitats of our British Ferns have been 
given. In the case of the more plentiful species, the counties 
in which they occur have alone been indicated. The particu- 
lar localities where the rarer kinds have been obtained are 
mentioned. To give a complete list of the habitats of every 
Fern would have necessitated far more space than could 
possibly he devoted to this part of the subject in any volume 
of moderate size. But in the majority of instances there is 
no necessity for such a list. Indeed half the pleasure of 
‘ Fern hunting ’ would be gone if the actual spots where the 
plants can he found were always indicated. The attraction of 
this delightful pastime consists in a very large degree in the 
loving search for plant forms, and in the surprise and pleasure 
which are occasioned when this loving search is rewarded by 
a ‘find.’ 
The Author indeed desires above all things that the follow- 
ing descriptions may call up before the minds of his readers 
not only the living realities of the plants described, but at 
the same time, by a natural association of ideas, glimpses of 
the beautiful natural world of whose verdant clothing they 
constitute so charming and so graceful a portion. 
