87 
the lower plants. We have been fortunate in securing an excel- 
lent series of colored plates to accompany the specimens in this 
group. 
The stems of our native ferns grow beneath the surface of the 
ground or horizontally on the surface. : 
for the museums our collectors made it a p 
stems of all the species. Many of these are now in a installed 
with the other specimens to which they are ted, it is 
structive to note the structure of these, eee litle. observed 
arts of the fern plant. Their size and mode of bran 
attachment o 
ves and the great number or paucity of roots 
are all characteristic features. h 
In the same way are shown the 
underground part of species of Eguisetum or the horse-tails. One 
of these specimens shows the way in which the plant stores up 
nourishment for itself in the form of globular tubers at intervals 
along the stem. 
Many fossil fons are exhibited in the fern cases. Some fe 
those living at present. Ou ties of fossil stems and variou 
impressions forms quite a contrast with the specimen gathered 
- losely related for t b nches 
JUDGE DALY’S SUNFLOWER. 
While visiting the late Judge Charles P. Daly at Sag Harbor, 
ng 
flower growing at one spot very near the shore of one of the bays 
near that place, which seemed to differ very much from any known 
species of Helianthus. The plant was in full flower at the time 
