26 AN INTRODUCTION TO STRUCTURAL BOTANY. 



the place of original publication, with date ; the Flora of Tropical 

 Africa, so far as the plants are included therein ; and any book or 

 paper in which Welwitsch's specimens are especially mentioned. 



The Catalogue is preceded by certain introductory matter, 

 including a biography of Welwitsch, mainly derived from that 

 published in this Journal for 1871, pp. 1-11 ; a note on the divisions 

 of Angola ; and a very complete bibliography, in which are enume- 

 rated Wehvitsch's own writings, and other publications devoted to 

 special parts of his collections. There is also an excellent portrait, 

 taken, like that which formed the frontispiece to this Journal for 

 1871, from a photograph executed In August, 1865. 



We have only to express a hope that the remainder of this 

 valuable contribution to our knowledge of the African flora may be 

 concluded at as early a date as possible. Mr. Hiern will complete 

 the Dicotyledons ; Mr. Kendle has undertaken the Monocotyledons ; 

 Dr. Stephani will describe the Hepatic* ; Mr. W. West begins in 

 this number of the Journal the description of the Freshwater Algfe; 

 and the remaining groups will be undertaken by the staff of the 

 Department of Botany. It may be hoped that the blight which 

 has for so many years hindered the continuation of the African 

 floras for which Kew is responsible will not descend upon this 

 important undertaking, for which botanists have to thank the 

 Trustees of the British Museum. 



An Introduction to Structural Botany. Part II. — Flowerless Plants. 

 By D. H. ScoTT, M.A., F.R.S. London: A. & C. Black. 

 1896. Pp. XV, 312; figs. 114. Price 3s. 6d. 



Tnii first part of this book was welcomed in these pages as a 

 companion volume to Mr. Oliver's Lessons, and It would have been 

 hard to find a heartier form of welcome. Students and teachers of 

 Botany will be equally grateful for this part. It was more needed 

 than the other, and the subject is much harder, and perhaps the 

 gratitude should therefore be greater — but, on the other hand, it is 

 not quite such a good book. How could it be? The subject of 

 Part I. lent Itself to simplicity of treatment; the subject of Part II. 

 lends Itself to all manner of pitfalls, to a choice of types and treat- 

 ment that would bewilder anybody. Dr. Scott has guided himself 

 through a very tortuous channel in a masterly way, and, even apart 

 from the botanical merit, has given us an excellent elementary 

 Cryptogamic Botany. One is tempted to regret that it is, as it 

 professes to be, purely structural. All that is wanted to make it 

 delightful reading Is a judicious mixture with It of the general 

 natural history of Cryptogams. But this is not fault-finding — It Is 

 mere sighing after another ideal. 



To give an Idea of the scope of this book It may be recalled that 

 Part I. had three types ; Part II. begins with Type IV. and finishes 

 with Type XXVI. It is all done with the accuracy and lucidity 

 Dr. Scott has led us to expect in his expositions, and teachers and 

 students may safely work with it as a bed-rock of sure stability. 

 For some of the types one might have chosen others, perhaps with 



