284 HANDBOOK OF CRYPTOGAMIC BOTANY. 



The Alga follow the classification of an able and original paper 

 read by Mr. Bennett before the Linnean Society in 1887. This is 

 based altogether on assumed affinities, upon which lines, as is 

 rightly observed, any natural classification must proceed. The 

 fact of evolution is completely taken for granted, and the only 

 point upon which doubt is entertained is the exact course along 

 which evolution has travelled. We miss, however, the delightfully 

 definite genealogical table of the original paper, reminding one of 

 Haeckel in his most dogmatic moods, and showing how the "pri- 

 mordial germ" begat Schizonn/cete, Chroococcus, and Protococcm^ 

 and from them all the plant-families of the earth have sprung. 

 Perhaps the writer has found that speculative botanical phyto- 

 genesis is not altogether such " plain sailing" as he imagined. 



The part of the work devoted to the Fungi presents in com- 

 paratively small space the result of an immense amount of reading 

 and observation. Necessarily based upon De Bary (whose grouping 

 is given in an order which exactly inverts the arrangement of 

 Goebel), it includes a very large number of references to the latest 

 literature on the subject. The mention of Plowright's Uredine(B 

 and UstilaginecEi (London, 1889) shows that the department of 

 British Fungology lias been brought up to the latest date. As an 

 example of the clear and full exposition of a difficult subject, 

 special attention may be directed to the account of the symbiosis 

 or consortism of the algal and fungal elements of Lichens. The 

 section concludes as follows (p. 322) : — " Many systematic licheno- 

 logists who have been unable to shake off the traditions of their 

 study still cling to the old view of the independent nature of 

 Lichens. It is hardly necessary to point out that the judgment of 

 morphologists on such matters is the one to be trusted, especially 

 as the matter has once and for all passed beyond the state of trust 

 in authoritative opinion into the perfect state of complete proof." 

 The systematic lichenologists referred to will probably be excused 

 for finding in the last sentence a trifle too much dogmatism. 



The sixth subdivision is that of the Mgcetozoa. Those who are 

 acquainted with recent researches of Mr. Lister into the predatory 

 habits of this interesting group of animals, will marvel that they 

 have not been relegated to their proper place in the Zoological 

 Kingdom. 



The Protophyta, composed of the combined Schizophycefr and 

 Schizomycetes, form the last great group. In it are included many 

 of those organisms which present problems of the highest interest, 

 and have given rise to the keenest controversy. As is well pointed 

 out, much help may be gained, when deciding the most difficult 

 points with regard to genetic affinities, by "taking into account the 

 phenomenon of the constant appearance of degeneration or retro- 

 gression in the Vegetable Kingdom." Saccharomyces, for example, 

 with other important genera previously regarded as protophytal, 

 are removed to the class of retrogressive members of a higher 

 family, and appear as much degraded Ascomycetous forms. Of the 

 many interesting groups of the Protophyta, the most interesting 

 from many points of view is that of the Bacteria, and it is with 



