1901] Robinson,—Self-strangulation in Virginia Creeper — 239 
line lists. It has thus happened that the first really popular work 
published in this country.on ferns, has been Mrs. Parsons’ admirable 
book in which the subject has been treated in an exceedingly pleasing 
manner. Admirable and valuable as these works have been there 
has still been wanting some treatise, which, combining the excellent 
points of the others, should treat ferns in a more comprehensible 
` and popular manner and still keep in touch with the most advanced 
knowledge of the subject. This want is well met by Mr. Clute's 
beautiful book. 
The author has long been favorably known as one of the best of 
our fern students, and his identification with the “ Fern Bulletin ” 
as its editor, has fitted him admirably for the task of popularizing 
the really scientific features of fern study and presenting the result 
in a most attractive manner. 
The whole appearance of the book is in its favor, and it is to be 
warmly commended to fern lovers as the very best book of its kind 
yet published. 
In his treatment of the vexed subject of nomenclature the author 
has wisely adopted a conservative course, and, for the most part 
retained the long established familiar names as maintained at Cam- 
bridge, and by the best authorities in this country and abroad. 
The book is beautifully and profusely illustrated, many of the 
plates showing the ferns as they grow in nature, and suggesting here 
Heath's charming book on the English Ferns, while the text is replete 
with sentiment and legendary lore, much after the manner of Anne 
Pratt's popular Ferns of Great Britain. 
The key at the end of the volume is somewhat original in the sim- 
plicity of its treatment and ought to be a great help to beginners in 
the determination of specimens. 
As the scope of the book practically coincides with the range of 
Gray's Manual, it covers well our New England Ferns and no New 
England fern student can afford to be without a copy. — GEORGE E. 
DAVENPORT, Medford, Mass. 
SELF-STRANGULATION IN THE VIRGINIA CREEPER.— About the 
middle of last June Mrs. J. H. Robinson called my attention to the 
peculiar fate of a Virginia Creeper (Ampelopsis quinguefolia, Michx.) 
which had been growing beside her cottage at Jaffrey, New Hampshire. 
