New Zealand Ferns 
17 
rare, as exemplified by our ferns. Something that is 
valued for itself alone, not for the reflected glory its 
possession gives the owner. The pride which a fern col- 
lector takes in showing a friend some rare specimen is 
not measured by its intrinsic value, but by the difficulty 
involved, the patience endured, his good luck in finding 
it. His first impulse after gathering and recording a 
prize is to get some for his friends. 
There were several ferns that I had never collected, 
others of which my specimens were poor, or not typical. 
Only to mention my want to other fern collectors was 
to ensure their giving me of their best. My warmest 
thanks are especially due to Mr. T. F. Cheeseman, Mr. 
D. Petrie, Mr. H. B. Matthews, Messrs. Hunt and 
Davis, and Mr. H. Carse for serving me in this direc- 
tion. 
One word of warning, O trustful reader; when you 
see a species marked “abundant,” do not be too san- 
guine. I have searched for some so described for 40 
years, and never found them. 
H. B. Dobbie. 
Auckland, 1916. 
