REVIEWS 71 



REVIEWS. 



A MONOGRAPH OF LICHENS FOUND IN GREAT BRITAIN, 

 BEING A DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF THE SPECIES IN THE HER- 

 BARIUM OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. By the Rev. James Crombie, 

 M.A., F.L.S., etc. i> Published by order of the Trustees of the 

 British Museum. Vol. I., 8vo, 519 pages, 74 woodcuts (by W. G. 

 Smith), each containing several figures. 



The third edition of the " Lichen Flora of Great Britain, 

 Ireland, and the Channel Islands," published in 1879 by the Rev. 

 W. A. Leighton, is admittedly an admirably accurate work ; but it 

 has not taken the place in ordinary use among British botanists 

 that its merits might have been expected to gain for it. The cause 

 is probably to be found in the style and terminology of its descrip- 

 tions, which are scarcely suited for easy and habitual use. It thus 

 leaves room for a more popular manual ; and the need of such a 

 work is rendered greater by the information acquired since 1879. 

 Mr. Crombie has spent not a few years in the study of British 

 Lichens, and has been in close correspondence with Nylander, the 

 renowned lichenologist, by whom so many new species have been 

 recorded. He has had access to the types of the most important 

 herbaria of British Lichens, and has used his opportunities perse- 

 veringly. He is thus peculiarly fitted to produce a work of authority 

 on British Lichens ; and the circumstances attending the publication 

 of this monograph increase its importance. We rejoice to see 

 such monographs issuing from the British Museum Department of 

 Botany. May this be but the forerunner of numerous others on 

 our native plants. The woodcuts give excellent representations of 

 the characteristics of genera, and are thus very helpful to the 

 student. The descriptions are necessarily somewhat technical (too 

 often containing terms, e.g. lecideoid, of only comparative meaning) ; 

 and, in consequence of this, a fuller glossary than the short one at 

 the beginning of the volume would be very useful for beginners 

 who wish to use the book. Mr. Crombie does not indicate in 

 definite terms his views regarding the dual-lichen controversy, 

 though a remark about Nostoc might almost imply at least a partial 

 acceptance of the dual nature. The present volume contains the 

 families Ephebacei, Collemacti, Lichenacei, and Myriangiacei (one 

 species). A second volume is promised in 1895, to contain all 

 other British Lichens, comprised in the families Lccidei, Graphidei, 

 Pyrenvcarpei, and Peridiei. Only constant use for a time can fully 

 disclose the merits or defects of any work on plants ; but, so far as 

 an opinion may be hazarded, it seems probable that the " Mono- 

 graph of Lichens found in Britain " will supply a felt want, and will 

 stimulate new students to apply their labours to our native Lichens. 



