240 BOOK-NOTES, NEWS, ETC, 



objects regarded by geologists as true coccoliths and rhabdolitbs are 

 rejected. A large number of new PeridiniacecE were discovered, and 

 are formally described and figured. No specific diagnoses of marine 

 PerUUniaccm have previously been published, authors of species 

 having depended on figures, and, at most, a few words of description. 

 It is hoped that the present systematic treatment of the subject 

 will conduce to greater order in the group. The authors record the 

 occurrence of all the forms in seven tabular statements, one for each 

 collecting voyage. Observations of the diatoms and Ciicmophijcem 

 were also made, and are briefly treated. A study was also made of 

 Pyrocystis, of which they describe a new species. The facts they 

 record tend, in their opinion, to confirm the view originally ex- 

 pressed of it by Dr. John Murray, its describer, that it is an 

 unicellular alga, although doubts have been entertained of the 

 accuracy of this opinion by several biologists. 



The London County Council has adopted a recommendation of 

 the Parks Committee to the effect " that, as an experiment, and at a 

 cost to the Technical Education Board, beds be planted in Battersea, 

 Kavenscroft, and Victoria Parks with suitable specimen plants which 

 could be utilized in the teaching of botany, and that a botanical 

 guide be published. The object in view is to afford assistance to 

 scholars in elementary and secondary schools in the study of prac- 

 tical botany." We await with interest and some trepidation the 

 result of this experiment, especially the "botanical guide." It 

 seems to us that the L.C.C. would be better employed in keeping 

 its gardens — e.(i. those on the Victoria Embankment, which have 

 for many years been disgracefully neglected — in a state of efficiency; 

 and the following paragraph, which we clip from the Daily Chronicle 

 just as we go to press, shows that Hampstead Heath, which the 

 Council have already spoilt by unsuitable planting, needs further pro- 

 tection : — " The hawthorn bushes on Hampstead and in Parliament- 

 hill Fields is now in full bloom, and every day visitors, both adults 

 and children, are seen carrying away large bunches of the " May" 

 as souvenirs of their visit. Notices warning people against com- 

 mitting such depredations are fixed in many prominent positions, 

 but these are totally ineffective unless some of the London County 

 Council's officers are near at hand. There are, however, very few 

 of these officials about, and these open spaces are very inadequately 

 protected. For some reason, probably that of economy, the number 

 of these officers on duty has been reduced by six, as compared with 

 the number on duty at this time last year." 



We are glad to see that Dr. Buchanan White's Flora of Perth- 

 shire, edited by Prof. Trail, has made its appearance. We hope to 

 notice it in our next issue. 



Mr. Arthur Lister and Mr. A. C. Seward have been elected 

 Fellows of the Royal Society. 



Errata. — In the last paragraph on p. 208, for ** Perry" read 

 " Penny." On p. 189, line 2 from top, for *' cm." read " mm." 



