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as short as Tom Thumb, we should not consider them a 
variety of the species man, but as an extraordinary appear- 
ance, some lusus natures, some deviation from the usual 
course of things. Moore says, “That most of these 
monstrosities are produced from spores (seeds).” We 
know that in the productions of nature there is always a 
tendency for the offspring to represent its sire. A tall 
father has frequently a tall son. The Insurance Companies 
are generally averse to insure a person’s life when the father t 
or mother has died of consumption. Why is this ? Because 
they consider that the child’s constitution will resemble that 
of the parent. In like manner, it is not surprising if a plant 
which has a curious appearance, should sometimes beget a 
progeny like itself. As, however, the primitive form is 
often produced from the spores, we can hardly consider 
them a variety, much less a distinct species. 
One further remark must be made. Let not the student 
of nature’s works be perplexed, because he finds it more 
difidcult to discover these deviations from the ordinary form 
than to ascertain the species. It is the very essence and 
character of such, that there should be a gradual approxi- 
mation to the original standard. The matter, in fact, is like 
the shifting sand of the ocean. Some Eerns will appear to 
come nearer to the typical plant, and others to the variety. 
There are intermediate steps to prove the beautiful gradation 
in God’s works. There may be a great difficulty in coming 
to a decision, and, after all, we must be satisfied, whether we 
study the animal or vegetable tribes, if we have something 
like the features and outlines furnished by the most 
approved authors, and in accordance with common sense. 
In bringing to a close our remarks on the Ferns and their 
varieties found in the parishes through which the Axe and 
its tributaries fiow, and also in the parishes of Charmouth, 
Lyme, Uplyme, and Monkton Wylde, with neighbouring 
parishes, we crave the indulgence of our readers, while we 
make another attempt to facilitate the discovery of the 
different plants. Let it again be observed, that all our 
Ferns except the Adderstongue and Moon wort are circinate 
in their vegetation, i,e,, before the fronds are expanded, the 
buds are coiled together in a circular manner. Any one 
