27 
tion has been derived from white. The well-known fact is quoted 
that the cotyledons or embryo leaves of all plants are almost un- 
iformly white, and this is considered significant. Both articles 
are suggestive, and offer unlimited field for the imagination. 
Cucurbitaccarum Novum Genus et Species. A. Cogniaux. (Proc. 
Calif, Acad. Sci. iii, 58-60). 
Brandegea with two species, Bigelovii and monosperma, is de- 
scribed as new. Also Echinocystis Brandeget. 
Couroupita Guianensis. W. E. Broadway. (Gard. Chron. x. 
649, 650, f. 94). | 
Diatoms: Their Life-History and their Classification. Freder- 
ick B. Carter. (Am. Month. Mic. Journ. xi. 276-280; xii, 
1-6; 81-85; 97-101; 121-123, pl. I, II). 
That portion of this series of papers which relates to the 
structure and life-history of the diatomacez is very interesting, 
and may be read with profit by those who are making a study 
of these minute organisms. The discussion of the structure of 
the diatom frustule is particularly readable, considerable space 
being devoted to showing the confusion which has arisen from 
the use of the word hoop to designate what William Smith calls 
the connecting zone, i. e., that portion of the frustule which is seen 
in front view. By the by, Count Castracane aptly speaks of this 
view as the sonal view, a term which is more expressive than 
Jront view, and which, for that reason, should come into general 
use. 
In treating this part of the subject, the writer surely nods a 
little, however. On page 84, in his remarks in reference to /rag- 
ilaria, he appears to have fallen into the error of supposing that 
all diatoms have the “pill-box” structure. But Prof. H. L. 
Smith, whom the writer quotes, distinctly mentions Fragilaria 
as one of the genera in which the edges of the hoops are simply 
opposed instead of sliding one over the other. (Lens, vol. I, p. 
72). In such a case, one would certainly not expect to finda 
diminution in the breath of the filaments. 
A valuable part of the paper is that which discusses the range 
which must be allowed in the size of the frustules. It is undoubt- 
edly the case that too frequently difference in size has been al- 
most the only reason for constituting a new species. 
