32 NOTICES OF BOOKS. 
internal organization, and the various attempts to classify them in 
natural sub-tribes and genera are but so many artificial arrangements. 
Dr. Lanzius-Beninga, in the publication above quoted (which, we 
believe, is a reprint of his article contained in vol. xxii. of the Nova 
Acta Acad, Leop. Carol. Nat. Cur.), has tried to establish a more philo- 
sophical system, and shown, in a series of interesting observations, that 
the internal structure of the capsule (theca) and the peristome offers the 
best means of classifying the Mosses. He finds that the genus Sphag- 
num presents the most simple, Polytrichum the most complicated 
structure. He also proves that a knowledge of the internal structure 
of the capsule is most useful in determining species. “AN good 
species," says Dr. Lanzius-Beninga, ‘ present sufficient marks to dis- —— 
tinguish them from their allies; In 1840, I found near Góttingen a 
Moss which seemed to be an intermediate form between Dicranum — | 
varium and D. Schreberianum : in analyzing the capsules of the latter 
two microscopically, the identity of the two species was at once appa- 
rent." The work contains forty-six pages and forty-one figures.— 
(B. Seemann.) 
Bericht über die Leistungen in ‘der geographischen und systematischen 
Botanik während des Jahres 1848. Von Dn. A. GRISEBACH. Bvo. 
Berin. 1851. 
This work is a continuation of Professor Grisebach's former labours, 
an annual report of all that has been done in the field of systematical 
and geographical botany. It gives an account of every new work, 
= notices its place of publication, and furnishes occasionally extracts of 
. considerable length. It also points out the smaller articles contained 
in periodicals, and arranges them under different heads. At present, — 
when it is expected that every one knows thoroughly; or at least the 
best part of, the literature of other countries, a compilation of this 
nature must be to every working botanist an acceptable acquisition ; 
ut and, indeed, the large sale Professor Grisebach's work enjoys on the 
= Continent is a sufficient proof of its usefulness. (B. Seemann.) 
