80 
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. 
Varieties are defined to be a large group of a species 
difiering from the regular appearance of that species, but 
approaching to it by intermediate plants. These varieties, 
as long as they live, always maintain the same form, and the 
spores, if sown in the same situation and under the same 
circumstances, would generally produce the same form of 
plant. If they are transplanted they would not alter, but 
still maintain the same character, though if the soil and 
situation be favourable to the growth of another variety, 
most probably the «pores would bring forth that other kind. 
"Wherever, therefore, we meet with a variety, we shall rarely 
light upon only a single plant in that neighbourhood, and 
certainly in some other district a group will appear. 
A monstrosity is reputed to be a single plant, or a very 
few out of a large number, which are changed or trans- 
formed in some extraordinary manner. The alteration 
brought about by insects or blight is not to be taken into 
the account, for when that action ceases, the transformation 
ceases also. Sometimes a single frond only deviates from 
its usual aspect. This is not worth consideration. It is 
the change of the whole plant that ought to be thought 
of importance. In some cases a partial malformation has 
been noticed. This has been done, because it is an indica- 
tion of a monstrosity or a variety that exists in other parts 
of the kingdom, and may be a clue to the discovery of the 
same in this. The partial malformation is the connecting 
link between the variety or monstrosity, and the regular 
form. Thus a herb or shrub, that bears on the same stock 
both double and single fiowers, is an intermediate form, 
that shows, however much the double and single fiower 
plants seem to vary, they are identically one species. As 
generally only a single individual monstrosity appears in a 
place, the habitat of that one is of no use to the fern col- 
lector, as there is no certainty of others being found in the 
same spot. Of course, as in varieties, so in these abnormal 
appearances, climate, soil, and situation have a most power- 
ful effect in bringing about these transformations, and there 
