264 THE JOURNAL OF BOTANY 
to be an error. For, though a good many species do possess a 
wide general distribution, yet on the whole the ferns do not spread 
more Bors: than the phanerogams. They are subject to precisely 
the e climatic conditions, save that they mostly exhibit a 
deaiied pretevelians for woodland habitats, and avoid exposure to 
strong sunshine. In old days fern-species were more ample con- 
nd more preci 
consequently have a much more limited soem eon comparable 
ai rallel with that of the phanerogams. The various 
h r 
region which Dr. “oi a. Sas a most cmisica source of 
by no means the ca SS a ae for distribution 
d for variation of form ariakva to that of any other group of 
pl ) , Such as Hieracium, Rubus, g 
the archaistic types of ferns now existi , some—for ——: 
Glew ibit a 
ng number of form 
which present as difficult a irobleti to ae pteridologist as hs 
most variable of the recent genera. There is no question that the 
ferns as a class possess a po owerfal vitality. And though in the 
—— for existence they are ing to their need of moisture 
d shade, un 0 compete on vite terms with the phanero- 
pian yet they often pla rt of poet preparing the 
und for the higher plants, as has ‘ee eub in his 
account of the redevelopment of Sneed on 
llowing is a brief account of the sciahdens of the book. 
Bhyesks Anus: ine Soa io. Part ii is devoted to a discussion 
of fern floras, prefaced by a Bi ie peatevts of the principles of 
floristic botany. The regions into which the author divides the 
fern world are as follows:—(1.) The cold temperate northern forest 
region. iterranean, with the west coast of Europe and 
the Cancabes. (3.) Chin sae, Bee an. (4.) Indo-Malaya and 
Polynesia. Ce) Australia and N aland. (6.) Tropical Africa. 
(7.) South ca with the coasts, the Afric 
nen : 
bya 10.) South Brazilian Campos. (11.) Andes. 
ape ernandez and An 
tarctica. 
are, arranged geographically, is appended. 
A. 
