228 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RKSKARCIIES RELA.TING TO 



— are considered, but though the author suggests other affinities for 

 them, he does not consider himself justified in placing them in any 

 definite genus, until the limitations of the genera Meristotheca, Garpo- 

 cocciis and Euryomma have been more accurately determined. E. S. Gr. 



Geographical Distribution of the Marine Algae. — W. A. Setchell 

 {Science, N.S., 1917, 45, 197-204). An address to the Botanical Section 

 of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The 

 author has made a survey of the entire literature of the marine alg^, 

 and noted the influence of various writers in developing the different 

 lines of geographical study. He considers that the work done on the 

 following five lines bears most directly on geographical distribution, viz. 

 taxonomy, morphology and development, floristics, physiology, and geo- 

 graphical distribution. The work of various authors is briefly discussed. 

 As a summing up of the general results and an attempt to determine the 

 general subdivisions of the coast-lines to satisfy all requirements of 

 geographical distribution, the following divisions are suggested : — 

 A. Climatic. — I. Zones, regulated by temperature of the warmer months, 

 especially to be determined by the mean summer temperatures or in 

 practice by the isotheral lines at intervals of 5° C. 11. Regions, purely 

 geographic segregations under zones. III. Provinces, subdivisions of 

 regions according to mean winter temperatures, in practice by isocrymes, 

 5° apart or less. lY. Districts, subdivisions under provinces according 

 to geographical remoteness and varying physical conditions of a general 

 nature. B. Topographiccd. — Y. i^(9rmr^^/o?is, aggregations of alg^eof same 

 general form, depending particularly upon substratum. YI. Associations, 

 aggregations depending for general likeness of form, etc., upon depth 

 (belts), salinity, light, aeration, etc., generally characterized by the 

 predominance of a single, or, at most, of a few species. E. S. G. 



Marine Flora of the Pacific Coast. — W. A. Setchell {Nature 

 and Science on the Pacific Coast. San Francisco : P. Elder and Co., 

 1915, 177-84). A more or less popular and condensed consideration of 

 a large subject, touching only on salient features and giving general 

 directions for further study. The area is divided into zones which are 

 geographically defined : Upper Boreal, Lower Boreal, N. Temperate, 

 N. Subtropical, Tropical. Each zone has a flora, the general aspect or 

 facies of which is distinct and characteristic. All the main groups of 

 algae are well represented, but the most conspicuous and famous are the 

 ]iaminariacea3 of which the author gives details of interest. Marine 

 phanerogams, lichens and fungi are also recorded. A short list of 

 bibliography is appended. E. S. G. 



Utilization of Marine Algae.— C. Sauvageau {Encijclopedie Scien- 

 tifique. Paris: 0. Doin, 1020, vi and 394 pp., ^1^ figs, in text). A 

 description of the uses which may be made of marine algoe. In the 

 introduction the author refers to the mode of life of the seaAveeds, their 

 scientific importance, their chemical analysis, and the biological causes 

 of errors made by analysts. The first chapter is devoted to a discussion 

 of the weed (wrack) and the manner of collecting it. Three sorts are 

 officially recognized, and have been legislated for in France since 1681 i 



