— 54— 



spore cases (Fig. 7) distinguishes it. In much the same form, 

 but never to be confused with Cystopteris, is the sori of Dicksonia 

 (Fig. 8), which, under the lens, appear as tiny green cups filled 

 with spore cases, held by reflexed teeth of the frond. 



We have still to consider the tall ferns of the marshes and 

 wet woodlands. No one can mistake the cinnamon fern {Osmtmda) 

 with its tall spike of cinnamon-colored fruit in early spring. 

 Equally noticeable are the two other species, one with fruiting 

 pinnules of brown midway in the green frond, and the other with 

 elegant smooth pinme like acacia leaves and a panicle of brown 

 fruit at the summit. All these are very common and grow in 

 clumps. The sensitive fern (Onoclea), which is abundant in all 

 wet places, with broad, coarse foliage and fruit in erect, berry-like 

 spikes that are held up above the snow all winter, needs no fur- 

 ther description. The Woodwardias have elliptical sori arranged 

 on the back of the fronds like links in a chain. The frond of the 

 common species is closely like that of the cinnamon fern in aspect, 

 but unlike it in coming up singly instead of in clumps. It is 

 found in bogs and easily escapes notice. 



The beginner will doubtless find other ferns that are not men- 

 tioned in this paper, but familiarity with those of which we have 

 spoken will enable him to refer the others to their proper genera. 

 But the study of ferns does not stop with the identification of 

 them; it rather begins there. In our next paper the matter of 

 collecting, pressing and arranging ferns in the"Herbarium will be 

 considered — W. N. C. 



OUR MISCELLANY. 



Specimens of Asplenium Trichomanes incisum, which are 

 said to be even more incised than the average San Diego (Cal. ) 

 specimen, are reported from Eastern Tennessee by Mr. Jas. H. 

 Ferriss of Joliet, 111. 



A peculiar instance of the little gray polypody (P. poly- 

 podioides) occurring much beyond its usual range is reported by 

 Dr. W. A. Bastedo, who found a single living plant on the dead 

 branch of a tree on the south shore of Staten Island in May, 1896. 

 The plant was some thirty feet or more from the water, and the 

 story of how it got there would no doubt be a curious one. We 

 shall be glad to hear from our readers in reference to this fern's 

 northern range in other parts of the country. 



