Davenport.] uiJ [Feb. 2, 



ent time to 153 or 15G, according as we may consider the claims of certain 

 ferns to specific rank, or their right to a place in our fern-flora, while the 

 range of the older species has been more or less extended. 



Taking the number in the list accompanying this paper for a basis, viz., 

 155, we have an increase of 30 species since 1875, and we may confidently 

 expect a still greater increase as the vast regions of Arizona, New Mexico 

 and Western Texas are more thoroughly explored. 



Foiirnier enumerates 505 Mexican species, of which number only 55 are 

 known to occur within our own limits ; but how many of the remaining 

 450 are lurking in the canons this side of the Mexican border, to reward the 

 patient search of keen-eyed botanists, remains yet to be made known. 



SUPPLEMENTARY. 



The foregoing tables were prepared in March, 1882. Since that time 

 several additions have been made to our Fern Flora, and many additional 

 credits noted ; these have so changed the status of the leading States as 

 given in the text, and are so interesting for comparisons by which to mark 

 progressive changes in the future, that it seems best to place them on rec- 

 ord here in a separate note. 



By the certain addition of 7, and the probable addition of 1 or 3 more to 

 the entire fern flora of the United States, our list is increased from 155 to 

 162 or 1G4. 



Numbers 94, 99 and 151 are to be credited to Alaska ; 45, 131 and 124 

 to Idaho ; 117 to Washington Territory ; 124 to Utah, and 97 ( Var. calca- 

 reum) to Iowa. 



California by the addition of numbers 24, 99, 117 and 154, advances 

 from the fifth to the second place, and, if a little Woodsia lately received 

 from Lower California proves to be oUusn, as seems probable, and the 

 doubtful credits were verified, would lead New York. 



Florida by the addition of Polypodium Swartsu takes rank for the pres- 

 ent with Michigan, although if we concede the presence of the doubtful 

 credits Michigan will still lead by one species and take rank as third, a 

 position, however, which she would be almost certain to yield up, perhaps 

 before the close of another season. 



Arizona by the addition of 81, 120, Polypodium thyssanolfpis, Pellma 



marginnta, Cheilanthes lendigera, Cheilnnthes sp.? Notholoena 



AschenJiornia/ia, Asplenium monanthemxm, Asplenium Glcnnki and 



Aspiditim sp. ? pushes rapidly to the front, contests the honor of 



third position with Florida and Michigan, and threatens before long to 

 become a close competitor for the leading place. 



Glancing over the entire field of our Fern Flora at the present time, it 

 is safe to assitme from the nature of her territory, and the close proximity 

 of an extensive and almost unexplored mountainous area to a portion of 

 Mexican territory rich in ferns, that Arizona in time will lead all the other 

 States in the wealth of her fern flora. 



