A reply to Dr. Robinson’s Criticism of the «List of Pteri- 
dophyta and Spermatophyta of Northeastern America.” 
FREDERICK V. COVILLE. 
It is with great regret that I have found myself called upon, 
under circumstances that make compliance a necessity, to re- 
ply to Dr. Robinson’s criticism, published in the preceding 
number of this journal, on the List of Pteridophyta and Sper- 
matophyta Growing without Cultivation in Northeastern North 
America, prepared by a Committee of the Botanical Club, 
American Association for the Advancement of Science. My 
hesitation is due to a feeling that nomenclatural discussions 
are often of little value, tending as they so frequently do to 
the expression of mere individual custom and prejudice. 
Since, however, I have never before put into print, except as 
a member of a committee, any statement of belief regarding 
principles of nomenclature, and have never published a con- 
troversial line on the subject, while at the same time I have 
been an active worker in the reform of our botanical nomen- 
clature, I hope that I may not be accused unjustly, as others 
have been, of having thought little and written much. 
First I must protest against Dr. Robinson’s assumption, 
which pervades his whole article, that Dr. Britton, chairman 
of the check-list committee, is its real author, and that the 
other eight members were largely ornamental, if I may be pef- 
mitted to use that word. In order that a false and injurious 
impression of this matter may not be further disseminated, It 
should be stated at once, that after another member of the 
committee had endeavored unsuccessfully to provide means 
for publishing the manuscript, as submitted by various mem- 
bers of the committee and by others, Dr. Britton consented 
to undertake the task and issue the publication from New 
York. The editorial work and the final verification of refer- 
ences fell therefore largely to Dr. Britton. Galley proofs 
were always sent, however, to each of the editors, and no 
small amount of time was spent by them in annotations and 
corrections and the verification of marked references. , 
If Dr. Robinson, furthermore, intended to express the opin- 
ion that Dr. Britton alone is responsible for the principles 
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