84 



nation of the species. In the present work the author gives us short 

 chapters on habits and distribution, morphology, fructification, ger- 

 mination, structure, classification and nomenclature, how to study 

 ferns, and fern literature, then the classification and description of 

 the North American species. There is also an excellent glossary of 

 technical terms, and one of specific names, and a copious index. The 

 illustrations, although not of superior excellence, convey all the in- 

 formation required. Great care has evidently been expended upon 

 the key to the genera and species, which has readily taken us to the 

 plants as far as tried. It is to be regretted that the chapter on the 

 literature of ferns is so brief, as it could have been extended; and we 

 notice that the name of Mr. C. E. Faxon, who drew the plates for the 

 second volume of Eaton's Ferns, and decidedly the best plates in 

 that work, is omitted entirely from the notice of that book. Mn 

 Underwood is to be congratulated upon the success of his work, and 

 it is to be hoped that he will soon have cause to prepare a second and 

 perhaps enlarged edition. — J. R., Salem, Mass, 



80. Proceedings of the Torrey Club.— The regular meeting of 

 the Club was held at the Herbarium, Columbia College, Tuesday 

 evening, May roth, the President in the chair and twenty-six mem- 

 bers present. . 



Miss Knight read a list of 28 plants found during the field meet- 

 ing, May 7th, at Bronxville. ■ This locality was found to be a new 

 station for Dentaria diphylla and Mitella diphylla. 



^Plants exhibited. — Mr. W. F. Miller exhibited an interesting col- 

 lection of Alpine plants. Dr. Kunze, in behalf of Mr. I. S. Buchan- 

 an, distributed flowering specimens taken from a graft grown from 

 the noted pear-tree which, up to the time of its destruction in 1867, 

 stood on the corner of Third Avenue and Thirteenth Street, a local- 

 ity in the early history of the island forming a portion of the farm of 

 Petrus Stuyvesant, the last Dutch director general of New Netherland 

 (New York). Mr. Bicknell exhibited and remarked upon the following 



Teratological specimens: — Dicentra Cticullaria, DC, showing 

 fission of the scape as far as the flowering portion extended ; Anem- 

 one Hepatica, L., having three flowers, subtended by a common in- 

 volucre, at the apex of the scape; catkins of Salix, some of which 

 were proliferous and bore two diverging ovaries on a common pedi- 

 cel, and one of the specimens, moreover, bearing ovaries, within 

 many of which were found poliniferous anthers. 



Mr, Brown remarked on the similarity of habit of several Compos- 

 itae^ such as Anthemis Coiula^ DC, Anthemis arvensis, L.. Matricaria 

 Chamomilla and Chrysanthemum luodorum^ and gave some practical 

 hints as to how they might be readily distinguished from each other. 



The presentation, by Mr. Willis, of specimens of Cypripedium pu- 

 bcscens, from White Plains, gave rise to a discussion on the subject of 

 orchids which consumed the remainder of the evening. 



The resignation of Mr. Schrenk as a member of the field-day 

 committee was accepted, and Dr. Schony was appointed in his stead. 



One active member was elected. 



Erratum.— In the June number, page 68, thirtieth line from top, the word 

 "as" should be inserted between "ascending" and "when." to eive the sense the 

 author intended. 



