ing up the species in single localities and of indicating 

 specimens for exchange. The early lists show very 

 clearly that they were intended to be used merely as 

 labels and exchange lists. They were printed on but one 

 side of the paper and were simply lists of names. Ap- 

 parently no notice was taken of the plants which we call 

 the fern allies. Ferns, alone, interested the first col- 

 lectors. Gradually other matter began to creep into the 

 lists such as the common names, synonomy, distribution, 

 abundance, etc., and finally the fern allies were added. 

 A further improvement was made in numbering each 

 species so that collectors instead of writing the name of 

 each species could list the species desired by simply 

 setting down their numbers. 



The first fern list of which I can find a trace was issued 

 by John Robinson in 1873, and entitled " A Check List 

 of the Ferns of Xorth America." In 1876 a second 

 edition with various changes was issued. This contained 

 146 species and varieties, among them several that were 

 wrongly referred to our region, such as, Adiantum 

 chUense, Adiantum pilosum and Aspidium Ludovicianum. 

 About this time William Edwards began his fern list 

 which finally received the title of " A Catalogue of North 

 American Ferns." Edwards has the unique distinction of 

 being the only maker of a fern list which appeared in 

 more than two editions. His " Catalogue " passed 

 through no less than five. The fourth edition, which was 

 the first to bear the title here given, appeared in 1876 

 and the final edition in 1879. ^ n this latter year appeared 

 the i: Catalogue of the Davenport Herbarium," by George 

 E. Davenport, and the next year saw the publication of 

 D. C. Eaton's " Systematic Fern List," which contained 

 the geographical range of all the species and in which 

 the species were consecutively numbered. This list con- 

 tained 164 species and varieties. Another fern list, not 

 very well known, was issued by S. Stebbins in Spring- 

 field. Mass., in 1878. This was a simple list of names 

 printed on one side of thin paper. A similar list was 

 issued by G. E. Davenport in 1883. 



