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A Manual and Dictionary of the Flowering Plants and Ferns. By J. 

 C. Willis, M.A. 'Vol. I. pp. xiv, 224 ; Vol. II. pp. xiii, 429. 

 University Press, Cambridge. 1897. Price 10s. 6d. 



Mr. Willis emphasises the importance of the study of evolution 

 in botany, and deplores the lack of an evolutionary basis in our 

 existing text-books of morphology. For topsy-turvy evolution in 

 the matter of manuals, we call to mind none which can equal his 

 own. Part I., we are told in the Preface, was written as a supple- 

 ment to Part II., as the latter was "wanting in co-ordination." 

 Part II. has therefore two supplements, one following it in the 

 normal position, the other — Part I. The Index to the two volumes 

 is, according to the table of contents, Part III., though the printer 

 has forgotten to label it thus. We will arrange our remarks in 

 phylogeuetic sequence. First, as to the main book, Volume II. 

 This is one of the most useful works on plants that has ever been 

 produced. The author modestly admits it to be a mere compilation. 

 But it is a compilation from the very best sources, with the matter 

 well selected, and the information given in a clear and concise 

 manner. Numerous cross-references enable us to get the most out 

 of the volume itself, and if we want to know more, Mr. Willis tells 

 us where to look for it. The book consists of an alphabetical 

 arrangement, under their Latin names, of the classes, cohorts, 

 orders, and chief genera of seed-plants and ferns. Very full 

 accounts are given of the larger divisions, and also of the more 

 important genera, especially those of economic value. The interest 

 is greatly enhanced by the insertion of facts of biological impor- 

 tance, so that one can turn over the pages for a long time without 

 getting bored. To such a list it is of course easy to suggest certain 

 additions, alterations, &c. Under the monotypic palm-genus 

 Jubaia reference should have been made to the little coconut-like 

 fruits which come into the Loudon market, the source of which 

 often puzzles people. Under Sequoia we are told that "in most 

 museums in Britain there are sections of a tree cut down in 1882, 

 and showing 3 335 annual rings." The only place in Britain, or 

 the Old World for the matter of that, where a complete section 

 showing 1335 annual rings can be seen, is in the great hall at the 

 Natural History Museum in the Cromwell Eoad, which, judging 

 from internal evidence, the author seems never to have visited. 

 Fragments of the original block have been distributed among a 

 few other museums, but these can give but little idea of the 

 immense bulk of the Californian Big-tree. 



Before leaving Volume II., we would humbly suggest to, the 

 people at the University Press, Cambridge, that they would confer 

 a great boon on students of botany if they would issue it separately 

 at (say) five shillings. 



As to the supplementary Volume I. Authors of text-books 

 which have appeared during the last two or three years will be 

 pleased to read that our existing text-books of morpliology are not 

 only wanting in evolutionary basis, but also " mostly out of date." 

 To these insufficiences in the modern text-book, and the want of 



