128 



THE FERN BULLETIN 



scale-like indusia, ciliate with whitish hairs.'' Seems 

 to us that a species founded on the color of the indusia 

 of a single frond or any number of fronds for that 

 matter, is not very well founded, to say the least. Dry- 

 opteris pittieri "is founded upon an imperfect specimen 

 without rhizome or stipe," and so the list goes. There 

 can be no doubt that many of the species mentioned 

 in this article are different from others, but that the 

 differences are anything more than trivial variations 

 is beyond belief. They rather belong to the category 

 of what De Vries calls ''Elementary species." Those 

 who wish to consider them good species are welcome 

 to do so, but for ourselves we prefer a more conserva- 

 tive view. When a long list of new species from the 

 tropics are described again, however, it is well to re- 

 member what small differences the scientists are se- 

 lecting to distinguish them and be governed in one's 

 judgment accordingly. 



BOOK NEWS. 



A very well written account of the common objects 

 of nature for use in nature study is contained in S. C. 

 Schmucker's "The Study of Nature." It begins with 

 a chapter on "what nature study is" — all such books 

 do — and runs on to aims and purposes from the teach- 

 ing standpoint. Then comes the bulk of the book de- 

 voted to the materials of nature study which we 

 heartily commend, and the work is finished with direc- 

 tions for a course in nature study. In the chapter on 

 "Helpful books" the author betrays his unfamiliarity 

 with much of the literature of the subject. All the 

 books mentioned, however, are useful in their own 

 field. The book is published by Lippincotts. 



