•_6 3 - 



Thirteen years ago, when the Fern Chapter was organ- 

 ized, the Agassiz Association was a thriving society, 

 and at the time it seemed most desirable that the newly 

 formed club should become one of the Association's Cor- 

 responding Chapters. With the passing of time, how- 

 ever, the Agassiz Association has come to hold a much 

 less important -place in the scientific world, and the sug- 

 gestion is not infrequently made that the Fern Chapter 

 should change its title so as to more nearly fit the condi- 

 tions of the present. It has been proposed especially to 

 drop the Agassiz Association part of the name, since 

 never, even at its beginning, has the chapter been any- 

 thing but an independent society. Should such a change 

 in name seem proper, it would also be well to change the 

 word " Chapter " to either " Club " or " Society." An 

 objection to the title, Linnaean Fern Society, is that there 

 is already a Linnaean Society, and the two might be 

 confused. Possibly Linnaean Fern Club would be more 

 desirable. The name of American Fern Society has also 

 been suggested. This, if not likely to carry with it the 

 idea of a society of fern growers exclusively, such as 

 the rose, carnation and chrysanthemum societies, might 

 be a very good name. In any event it seems high time a 

 change was made, and we know such a move would have 

 the sanction of many members who have never liked the 

 word chapter. The change can only be made . upon 

 application of three members and after receiving a three- 

 fourths vote of the members. It would be well to have 

 this matter taken up and possibly voted upon at the next 

 annual election. 



BOOK NEWS. 



A volume on " The Teaching of Biology in the Sec- 

 ondary School,"* the joint work of Professors Lloyd 

 and Bigelow, of the Teachers' College, Columbia Uni- 



*The teaching- of Biology in the Secondary School. By F. 

 E. Lloyd and M. A. Bigelow, New York. Longmans, Green & 

 Co.. 1904. i2mo. pp. 490 



