PREFACE. 
» The want of a popular hand-book on our native ferns 
induced the author to issue the present work. The great 
expense of getting up the illustrations no doubt prevented 
publishers from such an undertaking. The beautiful mon- 
ograph of the Ferns of North America, by Professor D. C. 
Eaton, of Yale College, now in course of publication, will, 
when it is completed, form a most valuable contribution to 
Botanical Science. The only aim of the present volume, 
however, is merely to be a guide to the amateur fern- 
gatherer, a book that can be carried in the pocket, and 
referred to at any time, whether in the woods or in the 
study. Pages are left blank so as to enable the student 
to make notes regarding the habitat and locality of ferns 
and flowering plants. 
The works of Riddell, Short, Clapp, and others who 
have gone over probably the same ground, are scattered 
throughout the various periodicals published at that time. 
They are very difficult to get at, and entirely out of the 
reach of the amateur botanist. These early workers made 
no attempt to illustrate, sometimes mentioning the county 
where the specimens were found, seldom the exact locality. 
(iii) 
