—14— 



found were Pteris aqtiilina, in immense quantities and very 

 large, quite gigantic; Polyftodium vulgare, Adiantum capilliis- 

 veneris and Cystopteris fragilis. All these except the last were 

 quite large, and resembled very much those found in our own 

 country, except the Adiantum, and all seemed like those found 

 all over Europe. As we were constantly reminded that our ex- 

 cursion was geological and not botanical, we found few oppor- 

 tunities to gather even the ferns which we saw, and, when about 

 to secure some, were often hurried to some other locality. I 

 know that in the deep forests and in other portions of the chain 

 other ferns, gigantic, it is said, are to be found. But those named 

 were the only ones 1 was fortunate enough to gather. The upper 

 limit of tree growth is 7,126 feet in some places, but magnificent 

 Primulas are found at 12,000 feet, and very beautiful Asters and 

 Blue Gentians grow on the moraines of the many great glaciers. 

 Lilies and other flowers are abundant. The slopes of these lofty 

 mountains are in the spring continually subject to avalanches, 

 which cause the surface to vary constantly, and where one finds 

 lovely flowers and great ferns, another a month later may find 

 only bleak desolation. The combination of valley or glade car- 

 peted with flowers, then lofty fruit and forest trees, fern and 

 moss- covered cliffs, then bare rocks and glistening snow, is sin- 

 gularly beautiful, and the only scenery to compare with it is that 

 of our own mountains in the northwest. 



ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF SOME EASTERN 

 AMERICAN FERNS. 



By Willard N. Clute. 



I THINK the announcement of the discovery of a new station 

 for the Hart's-tongue fern in New York State will be news to 

 most of you. Within a month it has been found growing 

 abundantly at Perryville Falls in Madison county. The locality 

 is of peculiar interest to me from the fact that I paid it a short 

 visit on my way to Chittenango Falls for specimens of the Hart's- 

 tongue, and at the time asserted my belief that the fern could be 

 found there also. At Chittenango Falls it grows very plentifully, 

 and is likely to continue to thrive, since the spot is one of partic- 

 ular beauty and is protected by an association formed for the 

 purpose. To this place is often credited the honor of being the 

 first in America in which the Hart's-tongue fern was discovered. 



