BOOKS AND CURRENT LITERATURE 



A Montane Rain-Forest. — Graphic descriptions of characteristic 

 plant formations are always welcome and stand out in pleasing con- 

 trast to mere lists of species masquerading as ecological studies. Es- 

 pecialfy are such descriptions of importance where the communities 

 dealt with are truly virgin; indeed, the correct delineation of the fast 

 vanishing primitive vegetation of the earth is the most urgent phyto- 

 geographical work at the present time. Shreve, in his recent book, 

 A Montane Rain-Forest, 1 has supplied a notable contribution in this 

 regard. But he has done more than this, for the scope of his work is 

 well indicated by its supplementary title, A Contribution to the Physio- 

 logical Plant Geography of Jamaica. 



The forest treated of is situated on the Blue Mountains of Jamaica 

 at an altitude of 4500 feet to 7428 feet. The climate of this area has 

 a yearly rainfall of 105 inches to 168 inches, 172.4 rainy days and an 

 annual mean temperature of 60.8°F.; frost is virtually unknown. The 

 forest itself is in part temperate in character both in its ecological and 

 florist ic composition, and evidently resembles in no small degree the 

 lowland rain-forest of New Zealand, though this latter, strange to 

 say, appears to bear ecologically a more pronounced tropical stamp. 

 This striking resemblance between a tropical and a temperate plant 

 formation is emphasized by several of the fine photographs that add 

 greatly to the value of the book. Plate 1, with its wealth of ferns and 

 Plate 8 with the pendant moss draping the slender, straggling tree- 

 trunks, recall exactly typical scenes in New Zealand rain-forest, not 

 only of the warmer parts but even where the climate is of a semi- 

 subantarctic character. 



After dealing with the physical features and climate of the area, the 

 author gives a list of the characteristic species of the florula, citing 

 270, of which no fewer than 93 are pteridophyta. In New Zealand, 

 at a generous estimate, no piece of forest would contain more than 212 

 species, of which about 65 would be ferns and lycopods. . Next comes 



1 Shreve, Forrest, A Montane Rain-Forest: A Contribution to the Physio- 

 logical Plant Geography of Jamaica. Carnegie Inst. Wash. Publ. 199. Pp. 110, 

 pis. 29, figs. 18. 1911. 



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