102 



On the Classification of Animals. 



After the preceding explanations, I proceed to exhibit some of 

 the relations of the higher groups in zoological classification, as 

 thej appear in the light of this subject of cephalization. 



(To he continued in next number.) 



Synopsis of CanadAan Ferns and Filicoid Plants. By 

 George Lawson, Ph.D., LL.D., Professor of Chemistry 

 and Natural History in Dalhousie College, Halifax, Nova 

 Scotia. 



The following Synopsis embraces a concise statement of 

 what is known respecting Canadian ferns and filicoid plants. 

 Imperfect as it is, I trust that it will prove useful to .bo- 

 tanists and fern fanciers, and stimulate to renewed dili- 

 gence in investigation. The whole number of species 

 enumerated is 74. Of these 11 are doubtful. Farther in- 

 vestigation will probably lead to the elimination of several 

 of the doubtful species, which are retained for the present 

 Y\'ith a viev7 to promote inquiry ; but a few additional spe- 

 cies, as yet unknown within the boundaries of Canada, may 

 be discovered. The above number (74) may be regarded, 

 then, as a fair estimate — perhaps slightly in excess — of the 

 actual number of ferns and filicoid plants existing in Ca- 

 nada. The number certainly known to exist, after deduct- 

 ing the species of doubtful occurrence, is 63. 



The number of species described in Professor Asa Gray's 

 exhaustive " Manual," as actually known to inhabit the 

 northern United States, that is to say, the country lying 

 to the south of the St Lawrence Eiver and great lakes, 

 stretching to and including Virginia and Kentucky in 

 the south, and extending w^estward to the Mississippi 

 River, is 75. This number does not include any doubtful 

 species. 



The number described in Dr Chapman's " Flora,'' as in- 

 habiting the Southern States, that is, all the states south of 

 Virginia and Kentucky and east of the Mississippi, is 69.* 



* Mr D. C. Eaton, M.A., is author of that portion of Dr Chapman's " Flora" 

 which relates to the ferns. 



