Yin 
PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. 
pi-eface of tlie first edition, and who being well 
acquainted with the principal Fern collections in this 
country, makes it a special point to obtain a know- 
ledge of all new introductions. 
For my knowledge of the additions to the Kew 
collection since 1864, I am indebted to the kindness 
of Dr. Hooker for having mentioned to Mr. Baker, 
the Assistant Curator in the Kew Herbarium, my 
desire to obtain a list of the new introductions, which 
he readily furnished me ; and whom I have also further 
to thank for special information regarding certain 
species. The number of new species introduced since 
the last enumeration amount to 234, of which the 
names of about one-half are derived from Mr. Baker’s 
list, some of which are specially interesting as consti- 
tuting several genera new to this work, which will be 
found noticed under their respective tribes. 
I continue to follow Sir William Hooker’s “ Species 
Filicum ” * in the adoption of specific names and 
synonyms as far as possible ; at the same time availing 
myself of certain corrections, made by Mr. J. G. Baker 
in a work entitled “ Synopsis Filicum,” being an 
abridgment of the “ Species Filicum,” — this work 
was commenced by Sir William Hooker, the first part 
of which was published in 1865, only a few months 
before the death of that celebrated Pteridologist ; it 
was, however, taken up and completed by Mr. Baker, 
forming a volume of 482 pages, containing brief 
* A work iii five volumes, being a description of all known 
ferns. 
