98 ERYTHEA. 



Dr. Behr reports that the Spaniards, in early days, used a decoc- 

 tion of the leaves of Rhamnits Californicus as a preventive against 

 the poisoning from poison-oak. Mr. Cnstro, who owned San Lorenzo 

 in the year 1851, told him about it. Those who are susceptible 

 should bathe the face and hands in the decoction, allowing it to dry. 

 If, on the return home, a bath be taken in water containing soda 

 and the body be afterwards dusted with rice powder, immunity from 

 the poisoning is guaranteed. Most people will find tliat the use of 

 tlie decoction alone is sufficient. — A. E. 



The Spanish people in the vicinity of San Gregorio in San Mateo 

 County call the Rhamnus "Tunitas." There is a creek near by so 

 named, undoubtedly from this common shrub. — George T. Rud- 

 dock. 



REVIEWS AND CRITICISMS. 



On. some Lithothamnia. By M. Foslie. Det. kgl. Norske 

 Videnskabers Selskabs Skrifter, No. 1, 1897. 



On page 39 of the last volume of this journal, attention was 

 called to the fact that the Californian coast had been credited with 

 five species of this genus of Corallines, two of which were new to 

 science. In the present paper, M. Foslie describes four more from 

 our coast, thus increasing the number to nine. 



The four new species are L. proboscideuin, Monterey; L. 

 grumosjtni, Carmel Bay and San Pedro ; L. Setchellii, San Pedro ; 

 and L. dedpiens, San Pedro. The last three were collected by the 

 writer of this note, but the collector, date of collection, and other 

 exact data are wanting in the case of the first species. Mr. Foslie 

 has still other material from California and his final monograph on 

 tlie genus will be awaited with interest. — W. A. Setchell. 



SHORT ARTICLES. 



Laminaria sEssiLis Ag. in California. — In 1862, Harvey 

 described among other new things collected by Lyall at Vancouver 

 Island, a singular kelp, to which he gave the name of Laminaria 



