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the rocks it approached the Eastern form of P. vulgare very 

 closely. In the crevices of the porphoritic rock Polystichum 

 Calif ornicum was wedged in so that it was difficult to get it out. 

 Many fine plants were just beyond my reach. There were three 

 forms of the species. One answered to the description of P. Call- 

 f ornicum, the smallest form to P. Scopulinum. These two run 

 into each other imperceptibly. Neither of them is worthy of 

 specific rank. The third form of this group was recently found 

 at the base of the precipice already referred to. It is a rare form. 

 It is said to be different from any described variety, but ap- 

 proaches what Eaton called lobatum. It is much larger than the 

 other forms. Its shape and habit of growth is very similar to that 

 of P. munitum. It fruits like the P. aculeatum group. It oc- 

 curred to me that it might be a hybrid between the two species 

 just mentioned. 



Among the talus in a shaded portion was found Gymnopteris 

 triangularis. It grew quite abundantly between the loose stones 

 and rocks. This form is rare in this locality. It is said to grow 

 on the San Juan Islands in a limestone region, but the writer had 

 never seen it growing in its natural habitat before. There was no 

 limestone here. The formation was porphoritic. 



Crypto gramma acrostichoides grew in close association with 

 the above. This is not a rare fern in the mountains of this state. 

 It is common in glacial regions about the volcanic peaks. It was 

 somewhat larger in this favorable station. I never saw this plant 

 at so low an altitude before. 



The precipice itself was covered as with a web of Salaginella 

 Struthioloides. This hangs down over the rocks gracefully much 

 like a Lycopodium, though very slender. A space of about three 

 hundred square feet was thus covered. This is another rare plant 

 in this region. It is also reported from Gray's Harbor on the 

 Pacific Coast in this state. 



— Why is Lomaria spicant called the "deer fern?" While in 

 Southeastern Alaska this summer, I noticed that the deer were 

 very fond of eating the fertile fronds of this species. It was very 

 difficult to find enough for a good series of specimens. Does 

 this have any bearing on the common name? — /. B. Flctt. [Mr. 

 Flett is correct in his surmises about the name. It has been stated 

 in print that the deer are so fond of the fronds that they paw 

 away the snow in winter in order to get at them. — Ed.] 



