670 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



which is carried by air currents. At a sufficiently close range the short 

 sight of the insect intervenes to direct it precisely to the seat of the 

 nectar. Isolated flowers are in general brought to the notice of an 

 insect by their colour ; the scent intervenes at a short distance to con- 

 firm or correct the original impression. In cases where a petaloid 

 perianth is absent, the smell alone seems to guide the visitor. 



As to whether a bee keeps to one particular species, the author 

 concludes that such fidelity is not absolute, but very frequent. It 

 appears in relation with the collecting of pollen and not of honey, and 

 only rarely exists in the case of the males. It is hardly ever observed 

 in other Hymenoptera, though certain species show a marked preference 

 for definite groups of plants. 



Plant -Geography upon a Physiological Basis.* — It is a matter for 

 congratulation that the late A. F. W. Schimper's great work, " Pflanzen- 

 Geographie auf physiologischer Grundlage," has been issued in English 

 form. The book, which is already well known in its German form, is an 

 excellent exposition of the modern development of plant study known as 

 cecology. Its usefulness is much enhanced by the numerous excellent 

 illustrations. An additional feature is an appreciation of the author by 

 one of the editors, Percy Groom. 



Forest Vegetation in Southern Switzerland.! — B. Freuler supplies 

 a number of photographic representations of the vegetation of 

 Soltoceneri, or that portion of the Canton Tessin which lies to the south 

 of Monte Ceneri. Of this district M. Freuler, who is a forest inspector, 

 remarks that hardly anywhere in Switzerland is there an area of similar 

 size which is so rich and interesting from the point of view of forest 

 vegetation. This variety is due to the mountainous character of the 

 area, extending from 230 to 2,226 metres above sea-level, to the climatic 

 conditions, and also to the great diversity in geological conditions. The 

 views, which depict groups of trees, single trees or more general aspects 

 of vegetation, are accompanied by a full description in the text, which is 

 written in German. 



Completion of Chinese Flora 4 — The completion of the enumeration 

 of the Grasses by A. B. Rendle brings to a close the account of the 

 Chinese Flora which, initiated by F. B. Forbes and W. B. Hemsley, has 

 been brought to a conclusion under the editorship of the last-named. 

 The elaboration of the grasses includes a number of new species and 

 forms, chiefly contained in the collections of Henry from Western 

 China and Formosa, of Faber from Szechuen, and of Hugh from the 

 province of Shensi. The Bamboo tribe (Bambuseae) is represented by 

 43 species, 12 of which are here described for the first time. 



Flora of Norfolk Island.§ — J. H. Maiden gives an account of the 

 flora of this island based on previously published accounts and on the 



* Plant-Geography upon a Physiological Basis. By Dr. A. F. W. Schimper. 

 Translated by W. R. Fisher, revised anid edited by Percy Groom and J. Bayley 

 Balfour. Large 8vo, xxx. and 8J9 pp. Clarendon Press, 1904. 



t Atti d. Soc. Elvet. Sci. Nat. in Locarno, sess. 86, 1903 (1904) pp. 269-92. 



J Journ. Linn. Soc. (Bot.) xxxvi. (1904) pp. H77-49. 



§ Proc. Liun. Soc. New South Wales, xxviii. (1904) pp. 692-785 (1 pi.). 



