249 



NOTICES OF RECENT BOOKS. 



Les Diatomees Marines de France. H. and M. Peregallo. 

 Published by J. Tempere, 168, Eue St. Antoine, Paris. 

 Part 1st, Raphidese ; Text, pp. 236 ; Plates 1 to 50 ; price 

 50 francs. 



This excellent work on the marine diatoms of France, and, of 

 course, of those other countries, as our own, which are washed by 

 the same seas, the Mediterranean excepted, has appeared serially 

 in " Le Micrographe Preparateur," issued bi-monthly by the same 

 publisher, and is likely to become indispensable to all diatomists. 

 Originally intended to supplement the well-known Synopsis of 

 Van Heurck, by the addition of the rich diatom flora of the 

 Mediterranean, the authors received such encouragement from 

 various sources that they decided to put together an entirely 

 new and complete account of the diatoms of France in three 

 parts, of which the present is the first. 



The descriptions appear to be well drawn up, full without being 

 tedious, and not overburthened with too copious a synonomy, 

 while all measurements (have evidently been carefully re\'ised. 



Naturally in such a work the plates form a very considerable 

 feature, and taking them all round they are worthy of great 

 praise ; the outlines are accurate and not spoilt by the markings — 

 indeed, if we desired to be hypercritical, we should say these latter 

 were even too sharp and neat — but the draughtsman has wisely 

 refrained from giving the details of striation in the pleurosigmas 

 and allied finely-lined forms. Another advantage consists in 

 nearly all the drawings being on the same scale, viz., 900/1, 

 reduced by a photographic process to 600/1, except in the" case of 

 such huge forms as Isthmia, and some of the Biddulphias, where 

 they are still further reduced. 



Altogether it is a very good book on a subject of perennial 

 interest to microscopists, and we look forward with interest to its 

 continuation. 



