The Scottish Naturalist. 143 



appeared from the pens of Mr. A. W. Bennett and other well-known naturalists, 

 in various magazines, of which the " Popular Science Review " may be specially 

 mentioned ; but scattered papers are not sufficiently convenient for ready 

 reference, and are frequently apt to be overlooked. On the Continent of 

 Europe, more attention has been paid to these inquiries, and for a far longer 

 period than with ourselves ; and to those that have interested themselves in 

 this direction the names of Sprengel, Hildebrand, Delpino, Axell, Kuntz, 

 Errera, Kerner, and many others, will at once suggest themselves ; but in the 

 forefront must be placed the name of Professor Hermann Miiller of Lippstadt, 

 who has for many years occupied himself assiduously and most successfully 

 with such researches in Germany, and in the Alps and Tyrol. His death in 

 1883 has left a blank that none at present can claim to fill. In 1873 ne 

 published his classical work : "Die Befruchtung der Blumen durch Insekten 

 und die gegenseitigen Anpassungen beider," founded on his own observations, 

 but also including those of his predecessors in this field. To this he added 

 three appendices, under the title : " Weitere Beobachtungen uber Befruchtung 

 der Blumen durch Insekten" in the years 1879, 18S0, and 1S82. In 1S81 he 

 published the results of personal observations on the Alpine flora specially, in a 

 large octavo of more than 600 pages, entitled : il Alpenblumen, ihre Befruchtung 

 durch Insekten und ihre Anpassungen an dieselben." 



Occasional articles by him have appeared in " Nature ;" but, owing to no 

 English translation of any of his books having been published, the results of 

 his labours have been accessible to but a comparatively small proportion of 

 those amongst us to whom they would be of peculiar interest. It is matter of 

 congratulation that this is the case no longer, since Mr. Thompson has supplied 

 English readers with the stores of information to be found in Prof. Midler's 

 books in an attractive form. Nominally this is only a translation of the first- 

 named of Dr. Midler's works ; but, while making that the basis of his transla- 

 tion, Mr. Thompson has incorporated in the latter the results contained in the 

 later works also, at least so far as of interest to British naturalists ; and has 

 also added notes and details from other sources where these could add to the 

 value of the work. He has altered the arrangement of the systematic portion 

 of the book, substituting the order in Hooker and Bentham's " Genera Plan- 

 tarum " for Endlicher's system, which had been followed in the original. The 

 change will facilitate its use in Britain. 



A most valuable addition has been made to the literature of this field of 

 study in the form of a comprehensive Bibliography, compiled by the translator, 

 of all works relating to the subject of the book. A glance at the list of papers 

 quoted will show at once the need of such a compilation, and how well Mr. 

 Thompson deserves the thanks of all interested in such pursuits. A very 

 characteristic and suggestive preface by Charles Darwin adds to the value of 

 the translation. To Dr. Darwin's works on the advantages of cross-fertilisa- 

 tion, and on the methods by which it is secured to plants, far more than to any 

 other cause, can be traced the great and general awakening of an intelligent 

 appreciation of the importance of a knowledge of their value, not only to the 

 botanical physiologist, but alsoto the systematic botanist. Here, as in all else 

 that he touched, he was the pioneer of marvellous progress. 



The book is divided into four parts — viz., Historical Introduction (29 pp.) ; 

 The Insects which visit Flowers (38 pp.) ; The Mechanisms of Flowers (501 

 pp.) ; and a General Retrospect (29 pp.). 



