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^ PREFACE.
of ye a rs to th e p re p a ra tio n an d p u b lic a tio n o f th e “ Species P ilic um ” a n d
o th e r works on th e same subject, th e A u th o r feels satisfied th a t the se
d o u b tfu l an d impe rfe c tly described species form th e g re a te s t obstacle to
a n y sa tisfactory advance in d e scriptive P teridology. * H e may, indeed, p o in t
w ith sa tisfaction to th e fact, th a t before he u n d e rto o k his w o rk th e ir
n um b e r was many time s g re a te r th a n th a t still cumbering th e volumes. B u t
th e re is little sa tisfaction in th e reflec tion th a t fo r th e id en tific a tio n o f a
g re a t m a jo rity th e A u th o r is in d e b te d more to some h a p p y accident, to th e
possession o f copious a n d v a ry in g suite s o f specimens, or to c ircumstances
connected w ith th e h isto ry o r locality o f th e species, th a n to th e ir published
d e scriptions o r to scientific evidence.
T h e re have been two fru itfu l sources o f th e s e “ b ad species ” th e first,
th e idea th a t geographical lim its m u s t lim it th e dispersion o f species j th e
second, th a t an y single chara c te ristic , however m in u te , if only e ith e r cons
ta n t or p re v a le n t in a giv en area, is o f specific value. Such a rb itra ry
conclusions have led to th e well-known Osmunda regalis receiving different
names in man y different countries, an d to th e forms o f o m A sp id hm i
(Polyshchum) aculeatum h av in g even more names in o u r own co u n try , and
still o tte r s in exotic regions. T h e e rro rs a risin g from th e firs t a re corre cted
as rap id ly as botanical an d geograiihical discoveries advance to g e th e r ,• b u t
I t IS n o t so with those due to th e second source, for th e dilficulty of limitino-
the se variable species is so g re a t, th a t i t often becomes impossible to frame
such diagnoses as sha ll include all th e va rie tie s o f one species, an d exclude
th e va rie tie s o f a n o th e r closely allied species. I n a ll th e s e cases we mu st
t r u s t to tim e au d experience to te s t o u r conclusions ; an d such difficulties
s ould tea ch us to look w ith indulgence on th e views o f those who differ in
opinion from ourselves.
T h e same rem a rk s ap p ly to th e g en e ra as to th e species o f P e rn s ; th e
former h av in g been, in th e A u th o r ’s opiuiou, u n necessa rily multip lied . I t
In connection with 1 ern history, Mr. Thomas Moore undertook the publication of
an extremely useful work under the title of “ ludex Klioum,” to consist of a Synopsis,
with characters of the genera, and an enumeration of the species of Ferns with
synonyms, references, &c. &c,, accompanied by excellent outline figures of the Anera
IS compiled with great industry and ability, and enumerates in an alphabetical
Z T fZ T Z r r r - » l- iv e , 1,780 species of
S r ''L The species enumerated
kKnlTownn FFeer ns wouTld: rbe' o 2 ,782. of
PREFACE.
is th e case he re as w ith o th e r scientific systems : th o se a re th e b e s t ch a ra
c te rs which lead to a knowledge o f th e object sought for m t t e ueares
and clearest way, k e ep in g in view also as much as possible its n a tu ra l
affinities. T h e difficulties c e rta in ly a re g re a te r in th e c ry ptogams t
am o n - th e flowering plants, because th e ir ch a ra c te rs are fewer, an d th e
forms” of th e ir organs more variable as reg a rd s size and shape.^
I n re g a rd to th e genera, th e publish e r has judic io u sly desired th a t nm e
plates should be devoted to th e ir illu stra tio n . T hey a re all d rawn from
n a tu re b y th e ta le n te d M r. P itc h , P .L .S ., an d on th e same plan as t t e
p la te s of F e rn s in H o o k e r an d A rn o tt’s la te editions of th e B u tis
^ ^Krferenoes a re given to th e volumes an d pages of th e “ Species P ilic um ”
for fulle r ch a ra c te rs o f t t e g en e ra an d species, as well as for figures moie
precise localities, a n d more copious o b se rv a tio n s ; an d i t is hoped h a t
th e p re se n t volume will form a useful mde -me cum for th e trav e llin g
b o ta n is t an d t t e c u ltiv a to r of P e rn s, a n d for re ad y co n su lta tio n m th e
H e rb a rium . , . , ,
T h e A u th o r c an n o t close th e s e in tro d u c to ry rem a rk s w ith o u t expressing
h is a cknowledgments to nume ro u s frien d s an d corre spondents for th e ir
valuable communications of specimens (often accompanied by notes) from
various p a r ts of t t e world. M a n y of the se a re recorded u n d e r th e ir h a b ita ts
(or localities) in h is former w o rk ; an d a re p e titio n of th em would b e o u t of
place in th is. B u t space m u st still be found for th e names of those persons
to whom we are in d eb ted for th e discovery of an y new species, o r an y new
o r in te re s tin g locality in connection w ith th e geographical d is trib u tio n of
T h e commencement of t t e A u th o r ’s fo rm a tio n o f a F e rn -H e i-b a rm m
d a te s as fa r ba ck as 1811, w ith t t e correspondence of th e illu strio u s Swartz,
only four years a fte r th e p u b lic a tio n of his invalu ab le “ Synopsis In lic um ;
a i l d e l for fu tu re wo rk s of t t e k in d . I t is, however, from comparatively
new an d d is ta n t regions, which h av e been w ith in t t e la s t h a lf c e n tu ry so
ex ten siv e ly ex p lo red by o u r men of science, th a t th e most im p o rta n t collectio
n s hav e been derived, an d to th e s e b o ta n ists an d tra v e lle rs be is anxious
th u s to ex press his obligations ; , r 7 r
F rom th e E a s t In d ie s, inclu d in g t t e M a la y P em n s u la an d Isla n d s .—
F rom W a llic h , B u c h a n a n , H am ilto n , H o o k e r fil. an d Thomson, Gideon
Thomson, Beddome, L a d y Dalhousie, And e rso n , Falconer, Jamie son Edge-
w o rth , S ir F re d e ric k A d am Ja cq u em o n t, Blume, Miquel, H e V n e s e ,
Teijsmann, S ir W illiam N o rris , Thomas Lobb, Cuming, Wallace, Low,