— 22 — 



Herbaria were examined, but none of the new form was noticed. 

 Fronds have been sent to the National Museum, Gray Herbarium 

 and several private herbaria. 



TWO NEW FERN LISTS-II. 



By George E. Davenport. 



In a "Working List of North American Pteridophytes with 

 Descriptions of a Number of Varieties Not Heretofore Pub- 

 lished," Benjamin D. Gilbert, the author, gives us to understand 

 from his preface that his special purpose has been to put into the 

 hands of fern students an up-to-date check list for practical use 

 in making exchanges and preparing herbaria, and he has cer- 

 tainly succeeded admirably in what he has undertaken. 



In the carrying out of his plan he has made no attempt at a 

 systematic, arrangement, but adopted an alphabetical order for 

 the greater convenience of ready reference, the different forms 

 enumerated being numbered consecutively from i to 438, with an 

 addition of six half numbers, making a total of 444. Of this 

 number 187 represent species of ferns, as against Mr. Maxon's 

 196, and in fern varieties or forms, which is a much greater 

 number than Mr. Maxon recognized, and which swells the total 

 number of fern plants to 298, by far the largest number yet pub- 

 lished in this country. 



Under varietal names Mr. Gilbert has succeeded in bringing 

 together about every form known to have been recognized in any 

 way, at any time since the earliest history of American Pteri- 

 dology, besides adding many new ones. 



Many of these forms are unimportant, but as a matter of 

 record, and keeping in mind the special purpose for which the 

 enumeration was intended, no serious objection can be made to 

 the presentation of so many unusual forms, as nearly all collect- 

 ors like to obtain as many as possible, and Mr. Gilbert's list will 

 be immensely helpful for that purpose. 



Some of the species enumerated, however, fall under a more 

 serious criticism, and the whole number given may be safely 

 somewhat further reduced. It is scarcely worth while, for in- 

 stance, to adopt such species as Botrychium tenebrosum, it 

 being merely a weekly developed growth of B. matricariac 'fol- 

 ium, as long ago determined by Professor Eaton, and now 



