BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 359' 



even the air which gains admission being filtered through tissues and their se- 

 cretions. This is one of those subjects which lead to the most tempting gener- 

 alizations, but should be considered yet more as something interesting than 

 settled. 



The German Scientific Expedition, under Dr. Koch, to investigate the 

 Egyptian cholera has not yet reached any very definite results. The only thing 

 set at rest is that the Bacillus is identical with that found in the case of Asiatic 

 cholera. 



We note that Dr. Farlow has received one of the numerous gold medals 

 awarded by the juries of the late International Fisheries Exhibition, for his 

 work on the marine alga?. 



We would call attention to the capital address of Prof. E. Kay Lankester, 

 as president of the biological section of the British 'Association, upon " The En- 

 dowment of Biological Research." It should be in the hands of all the boards 

 of management of our colleges and universities, and may be found either in 

 Science or Nature. 



The way that new species of fungi are pouring in upon us is rather over- 

 whelming. Not a month passes without its lists of new species, which leads us 

 to think either that we have never looked much for fungi before, or that specific 

 lines are not yet well drawn. 



We have just received notice of the death of Mr. Ch is. E. Perkins, of Som- 

 erville, Mass. It will be remembered that he published in the Gazette for 

 March of this year a list of the "Ballast Plants of Boston and Vicinity." He 

 was a young man and a good collector, his large collection, left to the Middle- 

 sex Institute of Maiden, being especially rich in introduced and ballast plants. 

 He had in contemplation both a local flora and a garden flora, which his friends 

 may be able to complete from his notes. 



We would call attention to the extension of time given in competing for 

 the Gazette prize, November 1 being substituted for May 1. 



. CURRENT LITERATURE. 



Flora of Worcester county, Masssachusetts. By Joseph Jackson. Published by 

 the Worcester Nat. Hist. Soc. 1883. 48 pp. 8vo. 



This society, but four years old, is doing a good work in bringing before 

 the people of its own neighborhood information upon the various depart- 

 ments of natural history. This is done by placing in charge of its collections, 

 which occupy three rooms, a competent custodian, whose services, not as guide 

 only, but also as teacher, are freely at the disposal of the public. During the 

 past year 20,000 visitors have availed themselves of this privilege. The pam- 

 phlet before us is but an outgrowth of this work, and is surely well done. _ The 

 county extends north and south across the State and contains quite a diversity of 

 surface so that both southern and northern New England may be said to be 

 represented. Only the Phrenogams and Vascular Cryptogams are included, not 

 so much from desire, we infer, as from necessity. The list numbers 812 species, 

 belonging to 387 genera. The only criticism that could be made is that there 



