The Microscope. 187" 



PVBLICATIONS 



Artificial Keys to the Genera and Species of Mosses re- 

 cognized in Lesquereux and James' Manual of the Mosses of 

 North America. By Prof Charles R. Barnes, Madison, Wis. 

 8vo., pp. 81. Price 50 cents. — The Manual mentioned in the 

 foregoing title contains a key to its contents that to the ordinary 

 student is simply demoniacal. Prof Barnes seems to have re- 

 cognized its difficulties and its short-comings, and has therefore 

 prepared these tables to the genera and the species. I have not 

 had an opportunity to put his work to the test, but I hope he 

 has not hesitated to make it artificial. An examination Avithout 

 a specimen in hand seems to show that he has, to a certain ex- 

 tent at least, yet like most advanced botanists, he can hardly 

 force himself to do what to the learned teacher appears almost 

 like sacrilege. Every arrangment of the kind, if it is intended 

 to help the student that is working without other aid, should be 

 as artificial as possible. It is this character that makes such 

 tables important and useful. Prof Barnes seems to have done 

 well. If he has discovered the importance of artificial points- 

 the result will be a boon to the student that may not be an ex- 

 pert in the study of mosses. The keys are worth a trial, and 

 since it is the mosses that are involved, a prolonged trial should 

 be made before condemning or criticising. 



Insecta. Guides for Science Teaching, No. VIII. By Alpheus 

 Hyatt and J. M. Arms. Square 16mo., pp., XXIII., 300. Bos- 

 ton : D. C. Heath & Co. Price $1.00. — This is a refreshing and 

 a stimulating little work, and therefore as unlike as possible some 

 manuals of entomology that seem to take delight in slapping the 

 face of the student that has the audacity to consult them. Such 

 books appear to feel a fiendish glee in refusing to answer simple 

 questions that the authors should take an angelic delight in an- 

 swering. Prof Hyatt's " Insecta," is a series of replies to ques- 

 tions that have arisen in the mind of the author while teaching,, 

 and the book succeeds in telling the reader many things that he 



