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NOTICES OF BOOKS. 



Introduction to Fresh-water Alga, with an Enumeration of all the 

 British species. By M. C. Cooke, M.A., LL.D., A.L.S. Kegan 

 Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co. London, 1890. 13 tab., illus- 

 trating all the genera ; 8vo, 334 pp. Price 5s. 



The author of this book deserves the highest credit for his good 

 intentions. To furnish the public with a book of handy size con- 

 taining descriptions of the British Fresh-water Alga?, and figures of 

 all the genera, with an introduction to their study — all this at a 

 reasonable price — is an aim of the most worthy kind. The plan of 

 the book and the idea of producing it are most creditable to 

 Mr. Cooke, but he should have induced some one else to carry the 

 matter into effect. 



Soon after the publication of Cooke's ' British Fresh-water 

 Alga?,' it was shown by Dr. Nordstedt in these pages,* and by 

 other writers elsewhere, that Mr. Cooke's claims to illustrate this 

 subject are of the most slender character. Mr. Cooke's methods 

 of book production were then laid bare, and the character of 

 many of his figures was properly described by the most eminent 

 living authority on this subject. It is, of course, impossible for 

 us to know whether Mr. Cooke took that lesson to heart, and 

 has prepared the present volume as some sort of apology for 

 his more ambitious work, or whether he remains "of the same 

 opinion still." Judging from the book before us, the latter view is 

 much the more likely one. In the Introduction, p. 6, Mr. Cooke 

 says: — "The historical review may be briefly summarised by 

 dividing it into three epochs, of about forty years' duration for 

 each, the first being limited by the publication of Dillwyn's ' Con- 

 ferva?,' the second by Hassall's ' Fresh-water Alga?,' and the third 

 by Cooke's ' British Fresh-water Alga?.'" Here is an author who 

 refers to his own book as an epoch-making one ! and such a book ! 

 Phycologists live in perilous times when Cooke's ' British Fresh- 

 water Alga? ' marks an epoch. 



Those who know Mr. Cooke's numerous and varied writings are 

 familiar with his refreshing habit of speaking out the faith that is 

 in him without deference to authority, and with hard words for 

 those who may excite his wrath. His chapter on " Classification " 

 in this book contains a scathing reference to Mr. A. W. Bennett's 

 classification of Alga?, and his chapter on what is here called the 

 "Dual Hypothesis" is to be noted for its outspoken language. 

 Mr. Cooke must be aware that in this matter he lives in a very 

 Crystal Palace of glass, and no doubt he is prepared for sportsmen 

 who may be inclined to return his fire. Let us look at this chapter 

 on the "Dual Hypothesis," not that there is anything dual about 

 the hypothesis, but only about the subjects of it. Most reasonable 

 people have spontaneoiisly remarked that in the controversy, while 

 it lasted, on the subject of the dual nature of lichens, the systematic 

 lichenologists were ranged on one side, and the morphologists 

 pitched over against (and into) them. It was further noted that 



* Journ. But. 1887, 355. 



