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mann's variety clatius, although nothing in the description would 

 bear out the surmise. 



I have seen this variety from .twenty-five different localities, 

 extending from Port Huron, Mich., (Type) to Ind. Ter., S. Calif. 

 (Death Valley) to Washington. Specimens from Berkeley, Cal., 

 bear rosulae in the grooves, and some Washington plants occas- 

 ionally bear two rows of tubercles on the ridges, otherwise it ap- 

 pears fairly constant except in aspect. 



Rev. J. M. Bates collected an interesting form in Nebraska, 

 which may be called forma polystachyum. In this the stem be- 

 comes branched at the upper nodes and bears 10 spikelets. 



WILLARD NELSON CLUTE. 



During the time that the editor of the Fern Bulletin has 

 been soliciting photographs of fern students for publication, he 

 has frequently been advised to take his own prescription by giv- 

 ing a portrait of himself to the public ; but with the modesty char- 

 acteristic of editors, he felt that he should wait until more of 

 those better entitled to the honor had been presented. He ven- 

 tures to appear now, largely in order that the absence of his por- 

 trait may no longer be urged by others as an excuse for not ap- 

 pearing. 



Willard N. Clute was born at Painted Post, Steuben County, 

 N. Y., February 26, 1869. His youth was spent in various towns 

 in New York and Pensylvania, whither the occupation of his 

 father, as lumber inspector, carried the family. "The little red 

 school house" is his Alma Mater and such knowledge of science as 

 he possesses was acquired by hard study since graduation from 

 that institution. His leaning toward ornithology and botany was 

 noticable from an early age, but living in towns where there were 

 neither teachers nor available books, he found it exceedingly dif- 

 ficult to get on in such studies and ever since has had a lively 

 sympathy for beginners similarly handicapped. 



His first publishing venture was in the capacity of editor and 

 part owner of The Ornithologist and Botanist, which was carried 

 through one volume and then sold. Following this he was for 

 some time editor of the Bulletin of the Wilson Ornithological 

 Chapter. He was one of the founders of both The Bryologist and 



