266 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



The Song Thrush (p. 39) is grouped with the Ring Ousel as 

 a summer visitor. The Hobby is said not to range to Ireland; 

 it is certainly a rare summer visitor, but has been recorded 

 several times in that country. The only breeding station of the 

 Fulmar, we are informed, in the United Kingdom is St. Kilda ; it 

 now, however, breeds in great and increasing numbers on Foula. 

 The Sanderling figured at p. 308 is in autumn, not winter plumage. 

 But we have no wish to be hyper-critical, and will only add that no 

 prettier or nicer book can be found than this as a suitable and very 

 acceptable gift to a young student or inquirer wishing to know 

 something about the birds of the British Islands. 



BRITISH FUNGUS FLORA. By G. Massee. Vol. IV. 1895. 



We have already had occasion to call the attention of our 

 readers to the importance of Mr. Massee's " Fungus Flora" as embody- 

 ing the results of much careful investigation by the author. The 

 fourth volume, just issued, shows equal signs of painstaking and 

 conscientious labour, and will, like its predecessors, be found indis- 

 pensable by all British mycologists. It covers the groups of 

 Ascomycacece, Hysteriacece, and Discomycetes, and is illustrated by 

 excellent figures of the genera recognised by the author as valid. 

 There are very considerable changes in nomenclature as compared 

 with Phillips's " British Discomycetes " ; but this is inevitable owing 

 to different estimates of the limits of genera, where these limits are 

 so difficult of recognition as they often are among the Discomycetes 

 and other lower cryptogams. It cannot be expected that the limits 

 of genera and species, and the names employed by Mr. Massee, will 

 in all cases meet with acceptance ; but the care with which his work 

 has been done will be recognised by all who use the book, and the 

 indication in each case of the material examined by him gives 

 additional value to his conclusions. 



