72 
NATURE NOTES 
American forms as distinct species. The sportsman is too apt to look merely at 
plumage or other external characters, disregarding anatomy and still more ignor- 
ing development ; and we cannot but think that, in the majority of the cases to 
which Mr. Fountain alludes, a thorough investigation would show that mere 
geographical isolation, if nothing else, has produced differences of structure which 
entitle the representative geographical forms to specific rank. 
It is melancholy to think how far less wild is the North-west of to-day than 
that descriled in this volume, and that if we had a similar account of South 
Africa fifty or sixty years ago it would show the same rapid extermination of big 
game. 
The American Botanist for December, 1903, though it makes one inference to 
which we most strongly demur, viz., that Corallorhiza innata “is parasitic upon 
the roots of trees can be at once seen by its lack of chlorophyll,” is an interesting 
number. The following passages refer to the gathering of fern fronds for bouquets 
in the hills of Berkshire, Massachusetts. “An extensive traffic in fronds of our 
native ferns ... is beginning to threaten their existence in the regions from 
which the supply comes. To prevent the total extinction of the ferns in the Berk- 
shires, a measure has been introduced into the Massachusetts Legislature requiring 
that each fern-gatherer in that State have a license, and making other regulations 
for restricting the collecting. This, of course, has aroused the strong opposition 
of the dealers. . . . It is estimated that more than 100,000,000 ferns are gathered 
each year and put in cold storage at Springfield to be sent broadcast over the 
country. From all over the country come in the farmers with their great loads 
of ferns, some of which bring as high a price as 2 dols. 50 c. a load. For the 
past twenty years dealers in Hinsdale have been in the fern business, and they 
say there has not been the slightest diminution in the supply. All the year up to 
the time of frost in the autumn, farmers have their entire families out getting 
ferns ; ferns of all descriptions from the delicate maidenhair to the austere brakes. 
The roots are always saved, and in many cases land that is of no value for other 
purposes brings in a good revenue from the ferns. The bill provides that the 
pickers must have a license to conduct their business, and that a certificate must 
follow each lot of ferns from the time they are gathered in the woods of Berkshire 
until they reach the final purchaser in some large city. This red tape would kill 
the business entirely, the dealers say. . . . .V man interested in fern gathering 
said . . . that at least one-fourth of the people of Berkshire are directly 
interested in the fern business. When a man owning a piece of land choo.ses to 
market the ferns upon it, or to allow others to do so, no one can object, for a 
man may do as he will with his own. . . But the gathering of ferns from 
the lands of another without permission is quite another matter, and the sooner 
the people of Massachusetts and other New England Slates put a stop to such 
practices the better. It is a mistake to think that removing the fronds, even in 
autumn, does no harm to the plants. Gathering the fronds late in the year injures 
the plants less than at other seasons, but it may be safely assumed that so long 
as the fronds are green the plant has use for them. Here seems to be a good 
opportunity for the Plant Protection Societies to do some missionary work. Any 
person willing to exterminate oui ferns at 2 dols. 50 c. a wagon load ought to 
be converted.” 
The Naturalist for March contains its usually varied assortment of papers and 
notes of local interest, among which we would specially notice the continuation 
of “ Notes on the Bluebell,” by T. W. Woodhead, of the Huddersfield Technical 
College, an admirable and fully illustrated study. 
The Field Naturalist' s Quarterly for March begins a new volume, with new 
features as well as interesting articles on its former lines. Mr. R. Hedger 
Wallace gives the second part of his account of “ The Place of ‘ Nature .Study ’ 
in Education,” and is henceforth in charge of a Nature Study section of the 
Magazine, the first part of which is devoted to lists of ‘‘Things that might be 
looked for” during the spring months. Selbornians will also be specially inter- 
ested in a jiapcr by Mr. \V. Heneage Legge on “The Natural History of 
