46 
REVIEWS. 
species maker, at least, as a species breaker. To avert for one moment to 
Mr. Newman’s “History of British Ferns,” we find, in the introduction, a list 
of four ferns “ which stand, though of a second grade, as far as regards 
their rank, as species, yet stand established as such in the text, and without 
any manner of doubt.” On turning to one of these—Cystopteris Dickieana 
—we find, that “the propriety of separating Dickieana from fragilis rests on 
these grounds—it is a perfectly healthy plant, not monstrous nor distorted, 
and produced freely from seed, becoming a perfect weed; whereas, fragilis , 
under similar treatment, rarely reproduces itself. Cultivated in the same 
soil and in the same pot with fragilis , the latter becomes larger and more 
vigorous— Dickieana smaller and less vigorous; and the more care the cul¬ 
tivator bestows on these two plants, the more will he find they recede 
from each other; whereas, all differences between the so-called C. fragilis , 
augustata, and dentata are speedily lost in cultivation.” This certainly ap¬ 
peared to us very fair evidence that Dickieana had a right to its place as a 
distinct species ; but this right Mr. Johnston denies, and says—“ If there 
be any value attached to physiological facts of this kind, regarding the de¬ 
termination of species, it must depend upon their correspondence under all 
circumstances, and the above remarks do not agree with my own experi¬ 
ence of nearly thirty years.” 
We have a description of Cystopteris alpina; but, as the plant gathered 
at Low Leyton was found on a suspicious locality—a garden wall—and as 
no specimens have yet been gathered wild in Britain, we do not see its right 
to be classed along with the “ British Ferns.” 
We have also Asplenium fontanum described and figured; and we think 
it has but the shadow of a right to be considered as indigenous to Britain; 
and its admission as such is questioned by, we believe, all our English 
botanists. 
In concluding these brief remarks on the letterpress of this volume, we 
must say, that it is carefully written, displaying evidence of a deep knowledge 
and long experience of the subjects about which it treats; it is compressed, 
too, into the smallest compass, and the volume will not prove a burdensome 
one to the botanical tourist; at the same time, it is not a “ History of the 
British Ferns,” nor, indeed, does it purpose to be so. 
With regard to the illustrations which occupy the latter half of the 
volume, we must give them our warmest praise and recommendation; they 
are generally faithful portraitures, perhaps, in some cases, a little too highly 
coloured, but, for the most part, accurate, neatly drawn, and faithfully deli¬ 
neated. 
