84 
with the modest excuse that it was adopted in deference to the 
ranchmen and early settlers who used to know the fossils as 
« Devil’s corkscrews,” or “ fossil twisters.” They have been ex- 
amined by botanists, geologists and paleontologists and have 
been considered as plants, animal burrows and “ accidents.” If 
they are to be classed with the latter, the author justly says: 
“Such accidents should be immortalized.” Sections examined 
under the microscope, however, show a structure which is cellular 
but not vascular, and the author concludes that they represent a 
new order of aquatic plants, “ resembling the red sea weeds more 
closely than anything else.” The illustrations are to be particu- 
larly commended, as they represent the location of the fossils in 
the field at a distance, single specimens close to, microscopic Sec 
tions and a general view of the collection as it appears in the Mu- 
seum of the University. A. H. 
American Algae. Century I. 1894. Josephine E. Tilden, Uni- 
versity of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn. 
The first distribution of this collection of fresh water algae 
from the upper Mississippi Valley has made its appearance. 
All the specimens, including some rare forms, are mounted upon 
good white card paper in a quarto volume. Labels, includ- 
ing descriptive details, are printed, and the material has evidently 
been determined and arranged with great care. The work as 4 
_ whole has only commendable features. It will certainly prove to 
be of great value to the few herbaria who may be fortunate enough 
to acquire it, as the edition is limited to twenty-five copies. 
3a 
Through Glade and Mead.—Under this attractive title Mr. 
Joseph Jackson presents a most pleasing account of the flora of 
of Worcester county, Mass. This large county, extending across 
the centre of the State, embraces a very diversified topography- 
We have the high peak of Mt. Wachusett, with a few plants ap- 
proaching the sub-alpine character; the rocky cliffs of West 
minster, the Purgatory Chasm near Uxbridge, and many fine 
__ lakes and ponds, swamps and forests. All this region Mr. Jack- 
_ son has made peculiarly his own. He takes the reader at once 
e into his confidence, and with charming talk by the way leads 
