its appearance, before allowing it a sufficient length of time to
do injury. Certain species seem more subject to this plague
than others, and this also holds good with the AphidcB. As
an instance, the A p h is appears to shun the gold and silver-
powdered F e rn s of the genus Gymnogramina, y e t n o t of the
silver NothoohlcBnas; there must, therefore, he something in
the farina of the former injurious to these insects. I f a plant
is not enjoying a pro p e r climate or treatment, it seems to be
more subject to be infected by insects; for instance, this will
be found to be the case with the h a rd y Scolopendriums when
grown in a greenhouse, the greenhouse species when cultivated
in a stove, or the stove species when placed in a greenhouse;
also a plant imperfectly drained. W e may therefore often learn
from the attacks of insects th a t our management in certain cases
is not what it should be.
This F e rn was introduc ed into E n g la n d between 1816 and
1833, from the W e s t Indies.
I t has been found in b oth the E a st and W e s t Indies, New
Hollan d , Mauritius, Malay Islands, and E a st In d ian Islands.
An evergreen stove species.
T h e form of the frond is trian g u la rly ovate, pinnatifid, d e cu rre
n t at the base, with oblong-pointed coriaceous segments, which
are sometimes six inches in len g th , th e lower one frequently
lohed.
Sori nearly circular. Rhizoma creeping, black, and scaly.
Fro n d s somewhat erect, glabrous, pale green, and shining,
and from twelve to eighteen inches in length.
Mr. Moore remarks th a t th e re are two forms of this F e rn in
cultivation in England.
Best known as the D r yn a ria vulgaris.
I am indeb ted to the Curator of the Cambridge Botanic
G ardens; Messrs. Rollisson, of T ooting; and Messrs. Masters,
of C ante rbury, for plan ts; and to Mr. J . H en derson, of W e n two
rth ; and Mr. Norman, of H u ll, for fronds.
I t is in the Catalogues of Sim, of F o o t’s Cray; Masters, of
C an te rb u ry ; Rollisson, of T ooting; A. H en derson, of Pine-apple
P la c e ; Veitch, Ju n ., of Chelsea; K en n ed y , of Covent G a rd en ;
and Booth, of Hamburg.
T h e illustration is from a frond forwarded by Mr. H en derson,
of Wentworth.