Referee's report by William Turner Thiselton-Dyer, on a paper 'Studies in the morphology of spore-producing members. Part. II. Ophioglossaceae' by Frederick Orpen Bower to the Secretary of the Royal Society Recommended for publication in Proceedings, as it contains new and important observations. However, the author's facts are presented in a 'repulsive' way. There is a neglect of 'literary form and proper method' in modern scientific papers which should receive attention from the Council. Previous scientists such as Robert Brown and Hofmeister were able to describe their findings with 'absolute clearness and precision'. The tone of the paper is 'unduly polemical''. When the author puts speculation aside, he is an 'admirable and conscientious worker'. Subject: Botany [Published in Proceedings of the Royal Society, 1895]. 21 May 1896