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THE MOSSES OF IRELAND. 



Bryologists will be very glad to make the acquaintance of such 

 a complete and careful synopsis as Dr. David Moore has recently 

 produced of the mosses of Ireland. This synopsis was first pub- 

 lished in the proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy (vol. i., ser. 

 2, Science), and since issued in a separate form, but as no pub- 

 lisher's name appears on the title-page, and no price is stated, we 

 are not in a position to affirm whether it has been published in the 

 separate form, or only printed for private circulation. The arrange- 

 ment adopted is lucid and distinct, generic characters are given, 

 with tabular diagnoses of species; these are followed by ample 

 references to full descriptions and figures, with an enumeration of 

 the Irish localities, ending with a copious index. Altogether here 

 are 140 compact 8vo. pages, representing such a mass of work 

 that we should be afraid to compute the time it must have occupied 

 in its production. This is a valuable contribution to our literature 

 of British Cryptogams, and we can only regret that such appear so 

 rarely. There is in Dublin a gentleman with a world-wide reputa- 

 tion in his special subject, who could give us just such a synopsis 

 of the Irish Fresh Water Algge ; we are not alone in the hope that 

 Dr. Moore's example may induce him to achieve this new honour 

 for Old Ireland. 



PROFESSOR (ERSTED. 



Dr. R. Brown has read to the Botanical Society of Edinburgh, 

 and it is about to be published in the annual volume of " Transac- 

 tions," a Biographical Sketch of the late Professor (Ersted, of 

 Copenhagen. Dr. Brown was specially fitted for this duty, and 

 has done it with all reverence for the memory of his friend. Pro- 

 fessor (Ersted was only in the 57th year of his age, and yet by 

 diligence and perseverance he contributed much to Botanical Science. 

 In Cryptogams, his best known researches were amongst the Fungi, 

 on which subject Dr. Brown enumerates thirteen contributions, 

 prominent amongst which are those relating to the connection 

 between Rcestelia and Podisoma. Professor (Ersted died at Copen- 

 hagen, Sept. 3rd, 1872, after a week's illness from dysentery, having 

 for twelve years occupied the chair of Botany in the University of 

 Copenhagen. 



Fungi Britannici. — The Rev. J. E. Vize, Forden Vicarage, 

 Welshpool, announces the publication of a fasciculus of British 

 Fungi, including the following groups : — Puccinirei, Ca?omacei, 

 iEcidiacei, Mucedines, and Erysiphei, making altogether 100 

 specimens, at the price of £1. " As a further help to beginners," 

 he also announces, " a limited set of very good microscopical 

 slides, showing spores, &c. ;" which will be prepared on application 

 at 10s. 6d. per dozen. 



