NEW PUBLICATIONS. 345 



remarks on the species, in addition to the mere specific dino^noses, and due 

 notices of the minute (microscopic) parasites — Fungi, Lichens, or Fungo- 

 Liciiens — tliat so frequently infest the thallus or apothecia of certain 

 Lichen-species. It is, moreover, better " got up," printed on better 

 papei-, in more legible type. No doubt all the additions that are desir- 

 able to Leighton's ' Lichen-flora' — including, for instance, an index, 

 glossary, bibliography^ and hilrodnction — would seriously increase the 

 size of a volume which, at present is a convenient one, as respects both 

 size and siiape. But, on the other hand, the present volume is, pro tanto, 

 incomplete and defective; while it is desirable that a national work on 

 such a sul)ject should, be as complete in all respects as possible. To the 

 physiologist or biologist — to tl)e scientific or philosophic botanist — the 

 paucity of information regarding the spermof/u/ies, and the utter absence of 

 all reference to pycnides, are serious defects ; serious even in tlieir bear- 

 ing upon a classijicatioii, which might have been materially altered by full 

 descriptions of the secondary reproductive organs of those species in which 

 they have been discovered. The few references that have been made to 

 spermogones, or their contents, by Mr. Leigiiton appear to have been 

 taken at second-hand from Continental authors, probably Nylander. The 

 following are illustrations of the few bald, unsatisfactory descriptions or 

 references given. In the Cetrariei, we are told (p. 96), " Spermo(jonia mar- 

 ginal, in setuliform apiculi or black papillae." In Flatysma (p. 98), 

 " Spermogonia minutely papillate or tnberculate." In the Psoromiei (p. 

 163), " Spermogonia with arthro-sterigmata :" in the Imbricariei (p. 121), 

 " Spermogonia innate." In Rlcasolia (p. 120), " Spermogonia in mas- 

 toid prominences." In TJmbilicaria and the Placodei (j)p. 154 and 

 174), " Sterigmata articulate." In Psoroma, and the Pannariei and Phys- 

 ciei (pp. 163, 164, and 141), " Sterigmata pluri-articnlate." In ParintUa 

 (p. 122), " Sterigmata 2-5-articulated :" in the Parmellel (p. 114), " Ste- 

 rigmata pluri-articulate, or with arthro-sterigmata." In only certain genera 

 and their subdivisions are the characters of the spermaiin given. In 

 Platysma (pp. 98-102), the genus is subdivided into sections according to 

 the character of the spermatia, — the only instance, however, in wliieh they 

 are here utilized in classification. In the Ea-Lecunorei (p. 180) w(! are 

 told, " Spermatia various in form in ditferent species ;" but the variations 

 in form in the different species are not given, so that such a statement is 

 almost tantamount to no information at all ! 



In such a Lichen-flora as Leighton's there ought be a separate sec- 

 tion, treating of the vegetable Micro-parasites that so commonly infest 

 the thallus and apothecia of Lichens ; so frequently produce deformities 

 of their fructification ; so often puzzle the student. Or, at least, under the 

 proper s|)ecies, mention should be made of their particular parasites. 

 But Leighton's work contains no enumeration of, or reference to, the 

 Micro-fungi, or Fungo-lichens, that are parasitic on Lichen thalli or 

 apothecia; and though the British parasitic species of Micro-lichens are 

 given (e.g.) under such gcmerie heads as Lecidea, Ferrucnria, and Arlhonia, 

 if we turn to sueli parasite-infested species as Sticta pnlmonacea, Pelti- 

 gera canina, Parmelia saxatilis, P. caperata, P. physodes, P. olivacea, P. 

 coHspersa, Lecanora veutosa, L. vitellina, L. cinerea, L. subfusca, L. poly- 

 tropa, L. glaucoma, L. ferntginea, L. Parella, Pertnsaria comvianis, Le- 

 cidea fusco-atra, L. conlignn, L. conjluens, L. canescens, L. albo-atra, or 

 L. excentrica, we find no allusion to tlieir parasites. 



