214 
bryogeny of these plants, with a complete index to the literature 
from which these results have been obtained, it is invaluable ; and 
its worth is further enhanced by the original investigations which 
Dr. Campbell has made upon some of our native species. We wel- 
come these with peculiar pleasure, and have only ourselves to 
blame, if from a systematic standpoint we can see where it might 
have been bettered. The chapter on the Bryineae is peculiarly in- 
teresting to us, for the light thrown by morphological investiga- 
tions into several mooted questions of classification is particularly 
welcome at thistime. There is great divergence of opinion among 
recent monographers, as to the systematic position of the cleisto- 
carpous mosses. Braithwaite scatters them among the higher 
families of mosses, and Limpricht recognizes fifteen genera, includ- 
ing some species which are very doubtful, such as Physcomitrella 
Hampet Limpr. Dr. Campbell gives us the comparisons between 
Ephemerum, Phascum and Pleuridium with Funaria, and the results 
are very interesting, but we venture to suggest that there are two 
American mosses which would better represent perhaps the two 
extremes, Micromitrium megalosporum Aust. and Bruchia longt- 
collis Eaton. The morphology of the stem and leaves in Fisszdens, 
Bryoziphium, Schistostega and Leucobryum are also particularly in- 
structive from a systematic standpoint, as well as the conclusions 
reached with regard to the place which Archidium and Buxbaumia 
should hold as the extremes of differentiation in the sporophyte. 
We are pleased to see that Archidium Raveneliti Aust. has been 
figured by Dr. Campbell, and agree with him that the question as 
to whether the cleistocarpous mosses are rudimentary or degen- 
erate forms is a difficult one to decide; yet we feel a personal bias 
toward the opinion that they are primitive forms. 
E. G. B. 
Wild Flowers of the North-Eastern States, being three hundred 
and eight individuals common to the northeastern United States, 
drawn and described from life. Ellen Milier and Margaret Chris- 
tine Whiting. Cloth, 4to, pp. plates 308. G, P. Putnam’s 
Sons, New York, 1895. 
This is the latest of the many recent attempts to popularize 
and render easy the study, or rather the naming, of plants. The 
work makes no pretense of being scientific, and the authors state 
