AIDE-MEMOIRE DE BOTANIQUE CRYPTOGAMIQUE. 253 



Flora of Somerset under the name of the 11. scaler must now be can- 

 celled, with one excejJtion. The peat moor plant (District 8) is said 

 to be Pi. ochrodermis Ley. Those of Districts 1, 2, 3, and 6 must be 

 placed under R. Drejeri. I have, however, a single specimen of 

 11. scaler from Dulverton (District 1), which has been vouched for 

 both by Dr. Focke and Mr. Gelert. — R. P. Murray. 



SciRPUs Caricis Retz, (p. 146). — The Rev. R. P. Murray points 

 out to me that this sedge occurs in N. Somerset (it is given in his 

 Flora of the county for half a dozen localities), and that, while new 

 to Devon, it is consequently not an addition to the peninsular 

 province. My specimens came from the immediate neighbourhood 

 of Lynmouth or Lynton; the exact locality has escaped my memory. 

 — E. F. Linton. 



NOTICE OF BOOK. 



Aide-memoire de Botaniqiie Cryptoqamique. Par Prof. Henri Girard. 

 Paris : Bailliere et Fils, 1897. 3 fr. Pp. 281 ; 107 figs. 



Under the general title of the Manuel d'histoire naturelle. Prof. 

 Girard has compiled a series of ten little volumes, in which he has 

 essayed to summarize what is known of the several branches of the 

 subject. To botany are devoted three of the volumes ; and one of 

 these is the book under notice. It is divided into four parts, the 

 first of which treats of such generalities as the cell and cell- 

 structure, and reproduction. In the second the thallophytes are 

 discussed, under the heads Fungi, Alga?, Lichens, and Bacteria. 

 In the third and fourth parts follow the Muscinete and the Vascular 

 Cry[)toganis. In a plain narrative, free from all verbose embellish- 

 ment, the main facts of the life-history and structure of these 

 groups are set forth with sufficient clearness and tolerable accuracy. 

 Classification of the kind common to text-books is added ; and such 

 fossil forms as are luiown receive notice. No authorities are quoted; 

 no alternative explanations of phenomena are alluded to; the places 

 of origin, from which the figures in the text were taken, are in no 

 case indicated. One feels impelled to ask, " What is the value of 

 the book?" The smart person gives the obvious answer, " Three 

 francs." But, setting aside the price, one would like to know 

 whether the student, for whom the author has expressly catered, 

 will do himself good or harm by perusing this compilation. The 

 wise student will doubtless benetii by it, being able to replenish the 

 meagre narrative with the rich stores of knowledge acquired from 

 text-books and lectures. The foolish student, however, who en- 

 deavours to cram up his subject at the last moment from books of 

 this character, is likely to lind that the light gained from them will 

 fail at the critical moment. Htudonts mindful of their best 

 interests must use the book strictly with a view to stimulate their 

 jaded and overcharged memories, and not with the purpose of 

 gleaning fresh facts, which can be better studied in more authori- 

 tative works. . ,, 



A. G. 



