westward through Michigan and Minnesota (where it is reported 

 to be common), to Hudson Bay, St. Paul Island (Coville and 

 Kearney), and Popoff Island, one of the Shumagins (Trelease). 

 It is also found westward to the Rocky Mountains and Colorado. 



Milde says this species does not appear to grow in swamps, 

 peat, pure sand or among rocks. It thrives in humus and sand, as 

 on river borders, among dwarf willows. From here it wanders to 

 the borders of woods where Anetnone neniorosa, Luzula cam- 

 pestris and Ranunculus acris grow. It is evidently quite com- 

 mon in rye-fields in Germany, as it is nearly always present in the 

 straw in which German glass is packed. 



VARIETIES. 



Several varieties have been described in Europe, but only the 

 following appears to have been collected in America: 



i. Xanum Milde. Sterile stems 3-7 inches tall, naked for 

 one-half to two-thirds of the height, sparsely scabrous, 6-9 angled, 

 upper sheaths as broad as long. Branches three to nine J^-i inch 

 long, horizontal or recurved, 4 angled, of 4-7 internodes. Fertile 

 stouter, less rough, 5 inches tall, of 7 internodes, sharply 7 angled, 

 the upper nodes 3-7 branched. Leaves broad, sharply keeled at 

 base, rounded in the center, slightly grooved above. Teeth two- 

 thirds as long as the sheaths, white and membranous, with firm 

 black base and often narrow black center. 



St. Paul Island, Behring sea, collected by Coville and Kearney 

 (No. 1840) of the Harriman Expedition, 1S99. The only Ameri- 

 can locality. The type is European, from the mountains of Tyrol, 

 6,500 feet elevation. It is also reported from England. I have 

 not seen authentic specimens, and Milde's description does not 

 exactly fit. 



Seabrook, N. H. 



[The material illustrating E. teltnateia is now ready for dis- 

 tribution, as is also that for E. silvalicum, which is to be discussed 

 m April. The two will therefore be sent out together. There are 

 twelve sheets in the set, at 5 cents each. The sets will be sent at 

 once to all who have ordered the series. Others should address 

 Mr. Eaton. Those whose sets lacked certain sheets of arvense 

 will receive them free with this distribution. — Ed.] 



Discorides said that ferns and reeds could not grow together, 

 the one perishing where the other is planted. 



"The fume of feme being burned driveth away serpents, 

 gnats and other noisome creatures." —Parkinson. 



