PREFACE. 
The Series, of which this Volume forms part, has been 
provided for the use of beginners in the study of natural 
objects, and especially for the young. Hence, in treating 
of the popular family of Ferns, it has been the Author's 
aim to familiarize the subject without sacrificing that inte¬ 
grity of detail which may render his pages acceptable even 
to those who may have made some progress in the study. 
With this intention all unnecessary technicalities have 
been avoided, and their place occupied by plain, and, it 
is hoped, easily-understood, descriptions of the plants. 
Those dubious and debatable matters, which, perhaps, 
have the most interest to the advanced student, have been 
