- 9 6- 



use of such absurdities as "Purdie's Concord Nephrodium" and 

 in listing the ferns under their common names. If the book 

 succeeds in its purpose it may be supposed that its readers may 

 later be stimulated to study more about their plants in other 

 volumes, but since no author citations are given this will be no 

 easy matter. The keys to the genera of ferns are both clear and 

 understandable to the scientist, though not arranged on mode/n 

 ^ines, and it is doubtful whether the beginner will be able to 

 handle them. There are no keys to the species, and the range is 

 seldom given, even in the case of rare species. We find it difficult 

 to agree with the author that "much confusion is apt to arise 

 from laying too much stress upon the indusium as a means of 

 identification" or that other points such as texture and cutting of 

 the frond are "more stable." Young students will doubtless 

 regret that more space has not been given to the varieties men- 

 tioned, since these are most difficult to identify. This much in 

 criticism of the book. In its favor may me mentioned that it 

 is well printed and compact enough to be taken into the field 

 and that it is the very first American volume to consider the 

 fern allies in a popular way. There are upward of fifty illus- 

 trations from photographs showing frounds or pinnae of nearly all 

 the species mentioned in the book, which should be very helpful 

 to beginners. One excellent feature, found in no other fern 

 book, is the italicising of the distinguishing characters, by which 

 means the novice is helped materially in identifying closely re- 

 sembling species. No doubt it will add many recruits to the 

 rapidly increasing company of fern students. 



FERN CHAPTEfTnOTES. 



Members not in arrears for their dues may obtain free of 

 charge for the asking, the following ferns : Lygodium palmatum 

 from New Jersey; Scolopendrium vulgare from Perryville, Chit- 

 tenango Falls and Jamesville, N. Y., and Dryopteris simulate 

 from Sylvan Beach, Oneida Lake, N. Y. Address the Secretary. 



Members are asked to send the names and addresses of per- 

 sons interested in Botany, and especially in ferns, to the Secre- 

 tary, who will try to interest them in the Chapter by means of 

 circulars. 



