SHORT ARTICLES. 43 



dichotomus" (p. 158). Perhaps, however, we might do the printer 

 an injustice in making him responsible for the following, under 

 Sphacelaria didwhotoma, " stalk 2—300// long, main branches 

 100-200,a long," which is quite a range for the stalk. Under 

 Edocarpux Mitchellce " main filament 25-40/^ wide, 1-3 times as 

 long as the diameter." Under Homeostroma, "paraphyses none, 

 furnished with numerous clusters of hairs." 



In conclusion, the points in which the paper might be open to 

 criticism are, lack of reference to the latest studies on the 

 Ectocarpaceae ; scantiness of detail as to new species; and some 

 little inaccuracies that might have been corrected in the final 

 revision for the press. 



On the other hand, the clear and concise descriptions are very 

 refreshing after wading through works where the author seems to 

 think that if he can only repeat a statement often enough, he can 

 consider it proved. Whether all the proposed species hold good 

 or not, the paper is a valuable contribution to our knowledge of the 

 Californian algse. — f. s. c. 



SHORT ARTICLES. 



^ Concerning Stapfia, Davy. — Dr. Stapf and Dr. Howe have 

 kindly called my attention to the preoccupation of the name Stapfia, 

 by Prof Chodat in Bull. L'Herb. Boiss. 5, 939, pi. 23, Nov., 1897, 

 for a genus of green algje (Palmellacese). I therefore propose the 



^ name Neostapfia colusana for Stapfia cohisana Davy, Eryth. 6, 



^' 1 1 0, Nov.,. 1 898.— J. BuRTT Davy. 



ToYON Berries in the North Coast Ranges, California. — 

 "While driving through the Vaca foothills of Solano County in 

 December, 1898, it was noticeable, notwithstanding the long pre- 

 vailing dry season, that the Toyon berries {Heteromeles arbutifolia 

 Roemer) were decidedly larger than in previous years. I also noticed 

 that which I had not observed before, namely, two different types 

 of inflorescence, a flat-topped sort and a looser paniculate kind. 

 My attention was attracted to them by the fact that the latter were 

 of a bright red color, while the former had a distinctly yellowish 

 cast. — R. H. Platt. 



