COOKE, ON MICROSCOPIC FUNGI. 269 
microscopic fungi. Most botanists have been aware of the 
laborious researches of the Rev. M. J. Berkeley, and his de- 
scriptions of all forms of British fungi in the last volumes of 
Sir W. Hooper’s ‘ British Flora.’ But these were not accom- 
panied with plates. The researches of Mr. Currey, the Secre- 
tary of the Linnean Society, on microscopic fungi, are also 
well known; but then he has published no systematic work, 
to which the student of the microscopic forms of fungi could 
appeal. Under these circumstances nothing could be more 
welcome than an attempt to give such an account of the more 
common forms of these fungi than has been done by Mr. M. C. 
Cooke, in the pages of our excellently conducted contempo- 
rary, the ‘Popular Science Review.’ An account of these 
fungi, embracing all the families which are strictly micro- 
scopic, has appeared from time to time, with very clear and 
easily understood illustrations ; and they have now been col- 
lected together, so as to form an introduction to the study of 
microscopic fungi. 
Mr. Cooke has evidently studied his subject with great dili- 
gence, and is perfectly aware of the best monographs which 
have been published, both in this country and the Continent. 
As a specimen of the style and matter of the work, we give 
an extract from Mr. Cooke’s directions to the young col- 
lector : 
“ Having found a plant infected with some rust or brand, and by 
means of a pocket lens assured yourself that it is such, although the 
power is insufficient to tell what it is, collect as many leaves as you 
are hkely to require; place them flat one upon the other, to prevent 
their curling up at the edges, should the weather be hot, and yourself 
far from home, and lay them in your box; or if you should take in 
preference an old book with stiff covers, place them separately between 
the leaves of your book, and they will be in still better condition, if you 
desire to preserve them. Arrived at home with the results of your 
trip, proceed at once to lay them between folds of blotting-paper, 
submit them to a gentle pressure, and change the papers daily until 
your leaves are dry, not forgetting to keep a scrap of paper with each 
collection, stating date and locality, to which, after microscopical 
examination, the name may be added. When thoroughly dry, your 
leaves may be preserved for reference in old envelopes, with the 
particulars endorsed on the outside. Fungi on leaves will generally 
be examined to the greatest advantage in the fresh state, but, if too 
much pressure is not employed in the drying, it will not be difficult 
even in that condition to make out their characteristic features. 
Care must be taken, by changing their position, that moulds of other 
kinds do not establish themselves upon the specimens in drying, or 
that when dried they do not fall a prey to Hurotiwm herbariorum. 
‘Tf it is intended to add these leaves to your herbarium, or to form 
a special herbarium for them, they should be mounted on white paper, 
first by affixing one or two leaves by means of thin glue to a paper 
about four inches square, on which the name, date, and locality may 
