10 ERYTHEA. 



to systematic work, classifying the Artocarpacese. In the early part 

 of his career he collected in Texas, the Rocky Mountains, and Mex- 

 ico, on behalf of the French Government. 



SHORT ARTICLES. 



Sphagna Boreali-Americana Exsiccata. — Curaverunt D. C. 

 Eaton et E. Faxon. Distribuit G. F. Eaton. During the last 

 years of his life Professor D. C. Eaton, long a devoted student of 

 the mosses, turned his attention particularly to the American species 

 of the genus Sphagnum. Only those who were associated with him, 

 can realize the untiring energy^ with which he collected, sectioned, 

 and mounted his specimens, or searched through the descriptions 

 and published sets, to identify the forms of the swamps and bogs of 

 New England, New York, and New Jersey. He found a most 

 earnest helper in Mr. Edwin Faxon, of Jamaica Plain, Mass., and 

 enlisted the services of as many as he could, to collect in other parts 

 of the United States, with the purpose of distributing all the avail- 

 able species of North America. His death occurred before the 

 task was completed, but so carefully had the work been done and 

 so finished in each separate case, that it has been possible for his 

 son, Mr. George F. Eaton, to carry out to a considerable extent the 

 wishes of his father. 



The distribution contains 172 numbers, each including at least 

 one ample bunch of plants. Thirty-nine species, each with a full 

 complement of varieties and forms, are represented. They are con- 

 tained in neat and convenient envelopes, with plain, well-printed 

 labels. The set is one which will certainly remain for a long time 

 one of the most valuable aids to the student of this most difficult 

 genus. New England furnishes the largest quota of forms, New 

 Jersey follows, and the southern Atlantic states come next. The 

 Pacific Coast is represented by three numbers, two from the islands 

 of Alaska, and one from Washington. w. A. s. 



The Range of Salix Nigra. — In a letter of the late M. S. 

 Bebb, addressed to Miss Alice Eastwood, are found some interesting 



