1920] A Flora of the Penobscot Bay Region 91 
the habit of the species is quite different. It may be an instance 
where the anatomical structure combined with the external is neces- 
sary in order to ascertain the true systematic position of these species. 
For this purpose I informed Mr. Christensen, the author of Index 
Filicum, about the presence of these hairs in the species mentioned 
above, and he kindly wrote me that this singular structure was a 
new proof of a probable generic distinction between D. marginalis, D. 
Filix-mas, D. cristata, and D. spinulosa on the one side, and D. nove- 
boracensis and D. Thelypteris on the other. 
The fact that Schmidel established the genus Thelypteris a year 
earlier than Dryopteris of Adanson has resulted in the transfer of all 
these species, including those of Phegopteris (Presl) Fée, to Thelyp- 
teris, thus involving no small amount of nomenclatorial change. 
To those who are familiar with these plants as they grow in nature, 
such classification does not appeal as being in any way natural. It 
may be true that rules of nomenclature are of no use unless con- 
scientiously followed, but it is sad to think of how much time is 
given and in recent years has been given to hunting for old names 
instead of studying the plants themselves. I feel absolutely con- 
fident that an extended study of the anatomy of these ferns will reveal 
many facts, which will prove helpful from the taxonomic point of 
view. 
And no critical investigator will feel obliged to submit to such 
rules of nomenclature, so long as they only involve endless con- 
fusion and add nothing whatever to the natural history of plants. 
CLINTON, MARYLAND. 
A FLORA or THE PEkNosgscor Bay REcroN.—Since the publication 
in 1894 of Rand & Redfield's Flora of Mount Desert Island, Maine, 
there has been great activity in the botanical exploration of the 
Maine coast and numerous papers have resulted therefrom, but now 
comes a study of more detailed character, by Mr. Albert Frederick 
Hill, who has spent many summers in the area. The Vascular Flora 
of the Eastern Penobscot Bay Region, Maine, is a detailed enumera- 
tion and a phytogeographic consideration of the vascular flora of 
the region immediately to the west of Mount Desert Island. 
1 A. F. Hill, Proc. Portland Soc. Nat. Hist. iii. pt. 2, pp. 199—304, with cuts and 
map. $1.50. 1919. 
