NEW PUBLICATIONS. 313 



nouiice the completion of the ' Handbook of l^ritish Fungi.' by Mr. M. 

 C. Cooke, tlie well-known vvritei* on the subject, in the issue of the second 

 volume of his work. The author has deterred his introductory matter for 

 the present, as the dimensions of the work have alrc^ady far exceeded what 

 was originally intended ; we think he has also wisely avoided " encumber- 

 ing his pages with a multitude of new generic names, often fanciful, sel- 

 dom necessary, and which may, at best, be regarded as transitional." In 

 the primary divisions of the Hyraenomycetes he has adopted the latest 

 views of Fries, witii the additions and analytical key of Mr. W. G. Smith, 

 first published in tiiis Journal, which will be found of great use in refer- 

 ring each species to its proper position. In characterizing the families, 

 orders, and genera, Mr. Cooke has combined the opinions of the Swedish 

 mycologist, contained in the ' Monographia Hymenomycetum Suecise,' 

 with those of the author of the Outlines, with the addition of synonyms 

 and references to figures ; and it may be here mentioned that the labour 

 of those commencing the study of mycology will be considerably lessened 

 by the characteristic woodcuts of each genus executed, we believe, ex- 

 pressly for the work by Mr. W. G. Smith, to whom the author is also 

 indebted for laimerous original observations. Another point now become 

 essential to a correct description of a species has not been neglected by 

 Mr. Cooke, viz. the measurements of spores, these he has given, wherever 

 they were attainable, as well in fractions of an English inch as in milli- 

 metres, that again saving considerable time to the student in comparing 

 specimens with French descriptions. The Myxogasters are considered to 

 belong to the fungi, agreeably to the views of most botanists, and the 

 Outlines followed in their arrangement. The work before us begins at 

 this point to attain an increased value, as no specitic characters of the 

 subsequent species, except of a few of the larger Elvellacei, are given in 

 the Outlines. The Splueroncmei are generally described as autonomous 

 species, although doubts of their being truly such are thrown out; the 

 state of our knowledge of these plants is not, however, sufficient to enable 

 us, with few exceptions, to refer them to other genera with any degree of 

 certainty. The author has here adopted the sound advice of Tulasne : — 

 " Multi propterea tutiorem viam sequentur f|ui, deticiente debitae, longse 

 scilicet, opportuiise et assiduse observationis facultate, ea qupe seorsa seu 

 discreta viderint, seorsim etiara, sicuti hactenus mos est, describent, nee 

 dubia incertaque tentabunt conjugia." Favourable opportunities, time at 

 our disposal, patient and repeated observations at various periods of the 

 year, are requisite to form a correct opinion on these ol)scure affinities. 

 But there can be little doubt that if any of these presumed genera are 

 merely various modes of fruiting of one and the same species, the rule 

 will hold good of them all, however difficult their identification may be. 

 With regard to the Mucedines and Mucorini, it may be sufficient to state 

 that the author follows the same course as with the former Orders, not 

 entering on controverted questions. He has, however, made a step in 

 advance by introducing the Saprolcgniea? provisionally amongst fungi. 

 In the ascigerous section, Elvellacei, Tuberacei, etc., all the more receht 

 information is given, which may be asserted with equal truth of the 

 Sphicriacei, although it does not appear why the secondary forms of fruit, 

 as described by Tidasnc, are passed over in silence, as in the genera Ustu- 

 lina, Nuuinnilaria, Entypa, etc., nor why certain forms are attributed to 

 more tiian one perfect species, as where llciidcrtiuiiiu iiuli/ri/atlx is referred 



