1904- Reviews. 245 



Other changes may not meet with universal acceptance. In Sphagnum 

 a cautious policy has been pursued, and until the British species have 

 been thoroughly studied and correlated with those of the Continent 

 this seems best. The familiar arrangement is followed, while Warns- 

 torf's principal species and varieties are inserted in their places in this 

 order, and briefly characterised. His arrangement is followed, however, 

 in the acntifolhwi group. 



The name Harpidium is still retained for the Drepanocladtis section of 

 Hypnuvi. Renauld's grouping is adopted in this section, and the full 

 descriptions of all the British forms is a useful feature in the new 

 edition. Several important changes occur amongst the vsmaller genera 

 of Hypnacece. Following Dr. Braithwaite, Sematophyllum is used to 

 include Hypnnm inuans and Plagiothecium demissum. Pleuropus sericeus is 

 merged with advantage in Camptothecitwi. We are not so sure of the 

 following. Psotheciiini disappears, and /. myicruin is transferred to 

 Eurhynchmin, beside E. viyosaroides. Lesmnea is amalgamated with 

 Psetidoleskea, and disappears. These changes tend to simplify the classi- 

 fication. Other changes of name, such as Helicodonthim for Myrinia, have 

 become necessary, but these are not numerous. 



New features in this edition are the derivation of the names of genera 

 (we wish this could also have been done for the species), and the 

 accentuation of the names in the Index as an aid to pronunciation. 



Sphagnufii ripariuni and Hypnum tnrgescevs are distinct and beautiful 

 species, and good additions to our List, while the discovery of Octodiceras 

 jfuliantmi in the Severn has added a new genus. 



Two Irish species, Ditrichuin vaginalis and Hypnu-ni circinale, are new. 



We have not noted any misprints or errors except the following: — 

 Pleurochcete squarrosa occurs in Westmoreland further north than is stated 

 on p. 223, and the distribution of Oithotheciutn rufescens on p. 437 should 

 be altered, as it grows in Ireland. 



The printing and arrangement of the text is most creditable to the 

 publisher, as the volume has been kept from becoming unwieldy. 

 Enough has been said to show that this is a most valuable work— in 

 fact, the ideal of what a Handbook should be, as distinct from a large and 

 complete work such as the " British Moss Flora." We possess no work on 

 flowering plants on exactly the same lines. One which gave descriptions 

 of varieties within reasonable compass would be a great boon. When 

 Dr. Braithwaite completes his magnum opus, as we hope he may before 

 the year is out, we shall have no reason to complain of want of helps to 

 the study of this fascinating class of plants. 



C. H. Waddei,!,. 

 Saintfield, Co. Down. 



