Bibliographical Notices. 121 



class of the Spharia, among which the cytispore always accom- 

 panies the ascophorous conceptacles (e. g. Spharia leucostoma, 

 ambienSj corticis, pulchella, Leveillei, profusa, &c.) . 



It may be suspected that certain Sphceria do not exist at all, or 

 are only met with commonly under the three principal forms which 

 they may take on. In Spharia Laburni, even, the stylosporous 

 form {SpJueropsis, Sporocadus) is as frequent as, if not more com- 

 mon than, the perfect thecigerous state. S. sapinea appears to be 

 known only with acrogenous spores, yet it is sometimes com- 

 bined with its cytispore. S. Oreades, atrovirens, Hedera, and a 

 crowd of others, commonly present themselves with merely a 

 gongylary reproductive apparatus. Hence it might be concluded 

 with much probability, that the group of the Spharopsides and 

 that of the Cytisporacei (which claim a great number of Phyl- 

 lostictei) include a number of Pyrenomycetes, the perfect states 

 of which are to be sought among the Sphceriacece properly 

 so-called, and which consequently must one day be united to 

 them, when persevering investigations shall have clearly made 

 known the constituent elements of each species. 



Finally, there is a constant fact to which it is still desirable to 

 call attention, namely the order of development of the different 

 terms of which we believe the species of Fungus to be composed. 

 It is such, that the spermatia which may be contemporaneous 

 with the stylospores always precede the appearance of the perfect 

 or thecigerous form. This anterior development may take place 

 even several months before, as is seen in the Rhytismce which 

 only ripen their spores in spring, while their spermatia (Melas- 

 mice) are developed at the close of the preceding summer. With- 

 out in any way prejudging the nature and office of these sper- 

 matia, it is imposible to avoid remarking that they precede the 

 endothecal spores in the same manner as the antheridia of the 

 Ferns or Equiseta precede the origin of the seminiferous capsules 

 of those plants. 



BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 



Manual of British Botany, containing the Flowering Plants and 

 Ferns arranged according to the Natural Orders. By Charles 

 Cardale Babington, M.A., F.L.S., F.G.S. &c. Third edition, 

 with many additions and corrections. London : Van Voorst, 1851. 

 Pp. 434. 



Mr. Babington's ' Manual ' has become so well known to all Bri- 

 tish botanists in the two previous editions through which it has 

 passed, that a third can require of us no formal introduction. The 

 features which distinguish it most strongly from other works of a 



