368 
exactly the opposite of Mr. Davenport’s for doing the same thing. 
My own edition of Swartz is that of 1806, and in that he says noth- 
ing about the indusium. May there not be a later edition in which 
the indusium is mentioned? At all events Newman identifies his 
species with Polystichum spinosum, Roth ; and Swartz in his addenda 
while giving P. spinosum, Roth, as one of the synonyms of A. spinu- 
Josum, raises the question ‘“‘an vere hujus?”’ whether it truly belongs 
to this? Desvaux is the author whose description of Wephrodium, 
spinulosum Hooker has chosen to follow in his Syv. F7/., although 
Desvaux is a later writer than Swartz; and Hooker says of it that the 
involucre is of gland-ciliated. But JV. dilatatum, which is taken 
from the same author, and is classed as a variety of spinulosum, is 
said to have the “involucre gland-ciliated.””. And yet our American 
writers claim that neither of the native representatives of these ferns 
possess gland-ciliated involucres. It would seem as if a character 
which is so undecided, and which varies so much in different coun- 
tries, were better dropped altogether asa distinguishing feature of the 
species. 
Inasmuch as I am one of those who regard the different forms of 
A. spinulosum as variations rather than varieties, my attempt to find 
a description which would fit the Watson form has been made mere- 
ly out of curiosity, and not with a desire to introduce any further 
confusion into the nomenclature. Benj, D. GILBERT. 
§ 366. Freeman J. Bumstead, M. D., LL.D.—Dr. Bumstead, one of 
the earliest members of the Torrey Botanical Club, died Nov. 28, at 
the too early age of 53... He was thrown from a carriage in Central 
Park, last spring; the driver was killed, and the Doctor had his left 
arm broken and was besides severely bruised. A friend, calling on 
him shortly after, found him confined to his bed, but hard at work 
on a new edition of his medical treatise. But he overtasked himself 
and never regained his health. 
Dr. Bumstead was a native of Boston, was trained at the Bosto 
Latin School, and graduated with Whitney, the Sanscrit scholar, at 
Williams College. We have heard him tell that Whitney taught him 
how to prepare ornithological specimens. Like many other grad- 
uates of Williams, he cherished a warm attachment to his alma 
mater, and was highly gratified when, last summer, she conferred on 
him the degree of Doctor of Laws. In his profession in this city 
Dr. Bumstead filled various positions of honor and influence. 
About the year 1871 he went to Europe with his family, and was 
absent two or three years. He occupied a good portion of his time 
there in studying under Pfitzer at Heidelberg, Boehm at Vienna and 
others, their methods of investigating the anatomy and physiology 
of vegetable life, and returned home with the hope and intention of 
doing some good work in this direction. But the demands of his 
profession and of a growing family deferred the day till he was sur- 
prised by death. 
Dr. Bumstead was at once an energetic and wise man, and a 
warm-hearted friend. He had not of late years frequented the 
Club meetings, but those of us who were wont to gather around his 
beloved Dr. Torrey will keenly feel that a link is missing. 
