—59- 



as it produces both male and female sex organs. The sperma- 

 tozoids (produced by the antheridium) correspond to the terminal 

 cell of the pollen tube, and the "egg cell" of the archegonium 

 is the homologue of the "egg cell" in the ovule. 



— American fern-lovers have scarcely a conception of the extent 

 to which the business of growing ferns is carried on in the Old 

 World. A valuable little aid to a better knowledge of the subject, 

 a pamphlet entitled •« Ferns and Selaginellas," may be had free 

 by addressing Messrs. W. & J. Birkenhead, Fern Nursery, Sale. 

 Manchester, England. In this are catalogued and described 

 nearly fifteen hundred kinds. The same house also publishes a 

 larger catalogue of a hundred pages (mailed for fifty cents), 

 which is profusely illustrated, and, in addition to the species listed, 

 gives much information on the cultivation of ferns. The experi- 

 ence of the Messrs. Birkenhead, however, is summed up in their 

 handy little volume on "Ferns and Fern Culture".* There is 

 seemingly not a point in the growing of ferns upon which this 

 book does not touch. Some of the topics treated are geographi- 

 cal distribution, modes of growth, composts, rock work, habits of 

 ferns, modes of cultivation, potting, out-door ferneries, rock fern- 

 eries, light and shading, temperature, moisture, ventilation, prop 

 agation, lists of ferns for cultivation in special ways, insect pests 

 and how to eradicate them, common names of ferns, etc. The 

 book contains upward of a hundred pages, is well illustrated, 

 neatly printed and is bound in cloth. 



*Ferns and Fern Culture by J. Birkenhead, F. R. H. S., W. & J. Birken- 

 head, publishers, Sale, Manchester, England. Price, postpaid, 30 cents. 



THE SANTA MARTA EXPEDITION. 



IN April a notable expedition sailed from New York for South 

 America, where nearly two years will be spent collecting in 

 the mountainous districts of Santa Marta in the State of Mag- 

 dalena, Colombia. The region is one of peculiar interest to the 

 scientist from the fact that it is set off from the continent by a 

 broad stretch of flat country, rendering its mountains like an is- 

 land in many respects. The little that is known of the region in- 

 dicates that It is rich in species, and it is expected that a thorough 

 exploration will yield many species new to science. 



