NOTICES OF BOOKS. 61 



II. Groups diverging from the Ascomycetes Series or of doubtful 



position. 



7. Chytridiere. 9. Doubtful Ascomycetes 



8. Protomyces and Ustila- (Saccharomyces, &c.). 



ginete. 10. Basidiomycetes. 



Groups 1 — 4 are, from tlieir approach to Algse, classed together 

 as Phycomycctes. 



Of those in Category II., 7 and 8 are to be regarded as standing 

 in relation to the Phycomycetes ; 9 in relationship, of course, with 

 5 ; and 10 with 6. 



They can therefore be taken in linear series thus : — 



4. Entomophthorefe. 10. Basidiomycetes. 



After dealing with the Fungi proper, the life-histories of the 

 orders, their physiology, &c.. Prof, de Bary proceeds to the 

 Mycetozoa and subsequently to the Bacteria, each of these great 

 groups being considered in great detail and with striking lucidity. 

 One cannot say more of the book than that no serious worker at 

 these interesting organisms can either dispense with it or consult 

 it without profit. G. M. 



A Monograph of the Ah/cB of the Firth of Forth. Illustrated with 

 herbarium specimens of some of the rarer species. By 

 G. W. Traill, Joppa, near Edinburgh. 1885. 4to. 



At first sight this work would appear to be merely a list of the 

 Algas of the Firth of Forth, illustrated with a few specimens. It 

 is, however, the result of the work of a true and enthusiastic 

 naturalist, who, in spite of numerous difficulties, has for many years 

 carefully observed and recorded the appearance, maturity and dis- 

 appearance, year after year, of all the species here recorded. It is 

 therefore extremely valuable, as indicating just those points con- 

 cerning Marine Algae to which too little attention has been paid by 

 many authors. The consequence of this neglect has hitherto been 

 that in this country, at least, very few investigations of the 

 fructification of this class of plants have been made, and in several 

 common British species some forms of fruit are still unknown. 

 Mr. Traill, by constant searching during the most inclement 

 weather, has discovered the unilocular sporangia of Sphdcelaria 

 pliDiuijera, and has thus helped to prove that it belongs to the 

 genus Sphacelarin and not to Chatopteris, with which it had pre- 

 viously been confounded, the same discovery also showing that 

 Chcetopteris should rightly be placed under Clddostrjihm. He has 

 also searched for and found several Scandinavian species which had 

 been pointed out to him as likely to occur on the east coast of 



