88 IUiodora [April 



ful in line and tint and texture, have long regretted that these unsur- 

 passed plates must remain for a time a private possession. The 

 plates now published are not, of course, of the Farlow series. They 

 show a few striking common species. But they serve to display Mr. 

 Krieger's unusual gift, the rare combination of artistic sense with scien- 

 tific truth, which fits him to do well just this work. Many have been 

 the illustrators of the fleshy fungi. But a survey of their drawings, 

 from the time of the herbalists down to the present, will show that 

 most of the work only approximates, and much of it perverts the 

 facts. Mr. Krieger is one of the very few whose accuracy and cunning 

 almost place the object right before us. His friends will congratulate 

 him on at last being able to make his work known. 



The accompanying text, if somewhat discursive and eclectic, is 

 pleasantly readable and full of information. It is further illustrated 

 by numerous excellent and well chosen photographs among which 

 those made by A. G. and B. Leeper, and by George Shiras deserve 

 mention. 



Mr. Krieger has also published 1 in a folder of pocket size a chart 

 of the genera of Agarics, illustrated by outline drawings. This is 

 intended for the beginners, to remove the confusion caused by the 

 bewildering similarity of plants that turn out to be so infinitely 

 various. Brief critical remarks anticipate difficulties of interpreta- 

 tion and provide means of recovery from following misleading clues. 

 The chart is arranged to serve as a key, and also to show at one 

 glance the interrelations of the details of the system of classification, 

 as based on the color of spores, and on the structure of the sporo- 

 phore. The use of this graphic key should soon fix in the learner's 

 mind what facts are most important and first to be observed, and 

 thus establish a definite conception of the type of structure that 

 corresponds to each generic name. 



Not. only those who are just entering upon the study of these 

 fascinating plants, but many to whom they are already familiar will 

 thank Mr. Krieger for these two publications. — H. W. 



The dates of the February and March issues (both unpublished as this goes to 

 press) will be announced later. 



1 Fluid Key to the Genera Of the Ollled Mushrooms, by Louis C. C. Krieger. The 

 Norman, Remington Co., Baltimore, 1020. $1.00. 



