252 The Botanical Gazette. [August, 
in Michigan. In Indiana it is reported from Gibson county, 
in the southwestern part of the state, and the station at 
Whitings places it in the extreme northwestern part. 
9. E. intermedia Schultes.—This species also was obtained 
with the two just mentioned. It has been noticed’ but once 
before in our vicinity, at Hyde Park. The stems are con- 
siderably shorter than those usually described, being but 
two to four inches-long. They are spreading or declining, 
densely cespitose, many small bunches making a large, com- 
pound tuft. Ido not find it reported for Indiana, though it 
is found in Michigan, northern Illinois, Iowa, and northward. 
E. acicularis, everywhere common, grew with the three spec- 
ies named above, and the four could sometimes be collected 
within the area of a square yard. 
Englewood, Chicago. 
The plea of expediency. 
N. L. BRITTON. 
Inasmuch as Dr. Sereno Watson has in hfs last published 
words (BOTANICAL GAZETTE, June, 1892) defined his position 
and that of Dr. Gray, on the question of nomenclature, as oné 
of expediency, it is desirable that this position be briefly ex- 
amined. a 
n 
that what thas appeared to them ‘‘expedient’’ is the shes 
which has been followed quite independently of what 
may have so regarded, and it is this spirit which has led 
he questio# 
anists.’’ Coming from the source that this pungen 
does, from one who has been more closely identifi 
