Vlll 
PREFACE. 
for the most part avoided, as being calculated to perplex 
rather than instruct those who are but acquiring the 
rudiments of the subject. Abstruse questions of identity 
or of specific distinctions have also been regarded as 
foreign to the purposes of this History."^ 
The present Edition will be found to contain notices of 
the more striking of the numerous varieties which are now 
known to occur among the British Ferns. The species 
which have been added to our Flora since the earlier edi- 
tion was prepared, are now described, and figures of them 
have been added. The list of localities has moreover 
received very numerous additions, for which the Author 
has to thank many kind Correspondents, whose names will 
be found therein recorded. 
The Author has not, indeed, found space, neither did 
the design of the Book seem to render it desirable, to 
mention, much less describe, all the variations from the 
normal forms of the species which have been observed,— 
variations of which some of our Ferns have proved very 
prolific. Those readers who are desirous of more extended 
