40 ERYTHEA. 



Fig. 6. Two forms of the plant magnified, xlOO. 

 Fig. 7. A part of a branched filament showing the formation 

 of zoosporungia. 



REVIEWS AND CRITICISMS. 



Phycological Memoirs. By De Alton Saunders (Proceedings 

 California Academy of Science, 3d Series, Botany, Vol. I, No. 

 4, pp. 147-168; PI. XII-XXXII, 1898). 



This is undoubtedly the most important document for the algae 

 of the West Coast exclusively, since Harvey's paper in the Journal 

 of the Linneau Society, in 1862, on Lyall's collection. It covers 

 the Eclocarpacese, Sphacelariacese, and Encoeliacese only; the 

 author's intention is apparently to include all the California species 

 of the last two, but not all of the first, though this is not quite 

 clearly indicated. lu all, thirty-five species, varieties, and forms are 

 referred to, all of which are figured. Ten are species already 

 known as occurring on the California coast ; eight species, known 

 in other localities, are now first reported in this region; while the 

 following ten species, and seven varieties and forms, are described 

 as new: — Ectocarpus acuminatus, E. ellipticus, E. chitonicolus, E. 

 cylindricus, E. hemisphericus, E. hemisphericus var. minor, E. 

 paradoxus var. Pacificus, E. mucronatus, E. corticulatus, E. silicu- 

 losus var. parvus, E. confervoides var. variabilis, Pylaiella littoralis 

 forma densa, P. littoralis var. (?), Sphacelaria didichotoma, Scytosi- 

 phon bullosus, Colpomenia sinuosa forma expansa, C. tuberculata. 



Diagnoses are given of all species, also of the genera and families, 

 and keys to the genera of each family ; the descriptions are clear 

 and concise, the plates well executed and characteristic. It might 

 have been better if the author had given fuller notes, critical and gen- 

 eral, especially with the new species; the genus Ectocarpus is a 

 large one; many species are imperfectly known, and new species 

 are being continually described; all details that can be given, and 

 especially indications of affinities and di.ssirailarities, as compared 

 with known species, are needed. 



Whether all the forms described will prove to be new, is uncertain. 



