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shortened until the lowest are tiny green ears. This is the New 

 York fern (D. Noveboracense}, and may always be distinguished 

 by this characteristic. It is also faintly fragrant. 



With the preceding species and also in drier woodlands and 

 on rocks, occurs the Marginal Shield-fern (D. margi7ialis). Its 

 fruit dots are worth a second glance, for they give this fern a sort 

 of preeminence among its fellows. The dots, like little buttons, 

 are arranged in precise rows, from one to five dots on the margin 

 of each pinnule, and so close to the edge that they look as if they 

 might almost project beyond it. There is no crowding here, such 

 as many of the others present, but if a fruit-dot is absent its place 

 is left vacant, and not usurped by the rest. This fern is common 

 in most of the Eastern States. It is evergreen and twice pinnate. 

 The position and arrangement of its fruit dots will settle the 

 question of its identity. 



The only species which might be confused with marginalis 

 is Goldie's fern (D. Goldiea?id). There is no excuse for such a 

 mistake, however, for while Goldieana may be called twice-pin- 

 nate, like the first, it is taller, much broader, lighter in color, 

 thinner in texture, and has its fruit- dots in a double row on either 

 side of, and close to, the mid vein in each pinnule. The broad 

 fronds and position of the sori are enough to distinguish this from 

 the other species. 



The Marsh fern (D. Thelypteris) is a lover of the wet, and 

 is likely to be found in abundance on the borders of the nearest 

 swamp or stream. The fronds come up singly from a creeping 

 rootstock and are nearly twice-pinnate. They resemble closely 

 the fronds of the New York fern except that they do not become 

 shortened at the base as in that species. The edges of the fruit- 

 ing pinnules, too, are inclined to roll backward, half covering the 

 sori. These characteristics will separate it. 



Much as these two resemble each other, there is a third 

 species which seems to stand between them. This is D. simulata. 

 It may be distinguished from the New York fern by the absence 

 of the small pinnae at base, and from the Marsh fern by its 

 broader pinnae and simple veins. In the Marsh fern, the veins 

 normally fork once. This should be remembered when searching 

 for simulata. Thus far it has been found only along the Atlantic 

 seaboard from Maine to Maryland. It inhabits shady swamps, 

 and when once known can not again be missed. At first glance 

 it seems exactly like Thelypteris. 



