THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 95 



to reg'arded with little favor as the ancestors of flowering 

 plants_, are now considered as among the most likely species, 

 especially since the discovery that many once regarded as true 

 ferns, are really seed plants. The seed forming habit may have 

 originated more than once, but it is a significant fact that ferns 

 have been able to evolve it. The sago palms, or cycads, so 

 fern-like in some respects, so seed-plant like in others, is now 

 pretty generally regarded as the bridge between the ferns, and 

 pteridosperms or "seed ferns" and the flowering plants them- 

 selves. The line of descent is supposed to lead through the 

 Ranunculaceae or Magnoliaceae, whose reproductive parts are 

 not so very different from those of certain fossil cycads. The 

 pines and their allies are supposed to have arisen from the Cor- 

 daites an entirely extinct race of plants. According to this latest 

 idea of evolution, the dicotyledons are supposed to be older 

 than the monocotyledons, an arrangement that is the reverse 

 of the belief held by many. This whole fascinating subject is 

 taken up by a new book entitled The Evolution of Plants, by 

 D. H. Scott, published by Henry Holt & Co. Dr. Scott is one 

 of the foremost scientists in the study of fossil plants but has 

 not forgot how to write lucidly and entertainingly as his little 

 book shows. Those further interested in the evidence for the 

 conclusion drawn will find them adequately set down in the 

 book mentioned, which is published at 75 cents net. 



For years, books on almost every conceivable phrase of 

 natural history have multiplied, but the great bulk of our popu- 

 lation is still densely ignorant of such matters. In time, if the 

 flood of good books continues, we may hope to see the natural 

 sciences take their rightful place in the estimation of the pub- 

 lic and therefore, welcome every new book that appears, as 

 another means to this end. Recently three different publish- 

 ing houses have begun series of scientific books designed to in- 

 terest and enlighten the general reader. The firm of D. Ap- 

 pleton & Co. are issuing a series of "Scientific Primers" under 



