FERNS AND FERN AEEIES. 
167 
Ferns and Fern Allies. VII. 
BY FREDERICK W. BATCHEEDER. 
We have come at last to the parting of the ways ; to that 
point in the evolution of ferns where a new path was struck 
out in the direction of specialization and of adaptation to 
modern conditions. We have seen that the ferns of the 
adder-tongue family (Ophioglossacese), formerly very 
abundant, have become so restricted 
in range and so reduced in numbers 
that we aie obliged to hunt for them 
if we would find them. The royal 
fern family (Osmundacese), the con¬ 
necting link between the ancient and 
modern forms, while conspicuous in 
our landscapes through the abun¬ 
dance and size of its plants, is poor 
in species, there being but ten known 
at present, only three of which are 
represented in our territory. In 
striking contrast with these two fam¬ 
ilies stands that of the fern family 
proper (Polypodiacese), which com¬ 
prises the great majority of ferns at 
the present day and supplies no 
small proportion of the covering of 
our earth. With regard to the rel¬ 
ative abundance of the members of 
this family in the sum total of vegetation, I can do no bet¬ 
ter than to quote from Prof. Douglass H. Campbell, (Mosses 
and Ferns), as follows: “A somewhat prevalent idea that the 
ferns of today form merely an insignificant remnant of a 
former vegetation is hardly borne out by the facts in the 
case. Anyone who has seen the wonderful profusion of 
PTg. 1. 
