The Scottish Naturalist. 143 



The Scientific Roll and Magazine of Systematised Notes. Conducted 

 by A. Ramsay. London : Bradbury, Agnew, & Co. 



So far as can be judged from the numbers of this magazine which 

 have been sent to us. it ought to prove eminently serviceable by bringing 

 together notes that, from being widely scattered in the innumerable peri- 

 odicals and other works that are now published, are in danger of being 

 overlooked. At present the subject under treatment is that of climate, as 

 the editor justly considers that a knowledge of meteorology is of great im- 

 portance to many classes of people. An ample bibliography of the subject 

 under consideration accompanies each part, and cannot fail to be of great 

 utility to workers. 



Dr L. Rabenhorst's Kryptogamen-Flora von Deutschland, Oesterreicb, 

 und der Schweiz. Vol. I. : Fungi. By Dr G. Winter. Nos. 1 and 2. 

 Leipsic : E. Kummer. 188 1. 



This Cryptogamic Flora, though limited to the plants of Germany, 

 Austria, and Switzerland, ought to be useful to every student of British 

 Mycology who can read German. After introductory chapters on the mor- 

 phology and physiology, collection and preservation, and classification of 

 fungi, Dr "Winter proceeds to describe the species belonging to the first class, 

 Schizomycetes, which include such organisms as Sarcina, Spirillum, Bac- 

 terium, &c. Of these, 13 genera are described, tabulated, and illustrated 

 by woodculs. The species are then described and their synonyms given, 

 69 species in all being noticed, after which the second class, Saccharo??iycetes , 

 is treated in like manner. Then follows the third class, Basidiomycetes, con- 

 taining the six orders, EntomopJithorece, UstilagintT, Uredinea:, Tremellinetf, 

 Hymenomycetes, and Gasteromycetes. The classes to follow are — 4, Ascomy- 

 cetes ; 5, Myxomycetes ; 6, Zygomycetes ; and 7, Oomycetes. The ground on 

 which this classification is chiefly founded is the presence or absence of a 

 sexual arrangement, the first four classes being considered as a sexual. This 

 is a classification different from that to which British students are accus- 

 tomed, and whether it is an improvement remains to be seen Apart from the 

 various opinions that may be held with regard to the classification adopted, 

 this promises to be a useful work; but as the parts which have been sent for 

 review only go as far as the beginning of the Uredinea, it would be rash to 

 give a premature judgment. At the same time, the name of the author (Dr 

 Winter) ought to be assurance of as satisfactory a conclusion as a commence- 

 ment. 



A List of European Birds, including all Species found in the Western 

 Palaearctic Regions. By H. E. Dresser. London : Published by the 

 Author. 



Mr Dresser is well known as the author of the magnificent book, recently 

 completed, 'The Birds of Europe,' and of other valuable ornithological 

 works, which is sufficient testimony that the list before us is trustworthy. 

 Professor Huxley's classification, which was also followed in the ' Birds of 

 Europe,' is the one adopted; and the list, which includes 623 species, is 

 neatly got up and well fitted to serve its object as a check-list. 



Proceedings of the Natural History Society of Glasgow. Vol. IV., Part 

 II. 1879-80. Glasgow: 1881. 



We are always glad to receive these ' Proceedings,' since there are none 



