BihUogi-aphical Notice. 479 



and past time. The " Brown Algje " include the common Fucus or 

 Chondrus, the gigantic Lessonia, and the floating Sargassum. A 

 colossal fossil form (Kematojjhi/cus) is regarded (pages 192-202) 

 as a doubtful member of this group ; it is from Silurian and 

 Devonian strata ; and so is Pachytheca, possibly the sporangium of 

 the same or an allied alga. 



Of the very low-class Myxomycetes some possible representatives 

 in the fossil state are referred to (p. 205). Fungi (pp. 207-222), 

 chiefly parasitic on leaves and in the tissue of plants, from the 

 Carboniferous period upwards, are not unfrequent. The Charo- 

 phyta are well represented by NitelJa and Chara, the latter in both 

 recent and fossil state. 



In Chapter VIII. the Liverworts occur fossil as Marcliantites ; 

 and the Mosses as Musettes, one in the Coal-measures. In Chapters 

 IX.-XI. the " Vascular Cryptogams " are described, with their fossil 

 predecessors, so important in geological history. These Pteridophyta 

 comprise: — (i.) Equisetales; (ii.) Sphenophyllales ; (iii.) Lycopo- 

 dialcs ; (iv.) Filicales. The external character and internal structure 

 of the recent Equisetum are carefully described (pp. 244-254), 

 and then the fossil forms — (1) Kquisetites; (2) Phyllotheca ; 

 (3) Schizoneura ; (4) Calamites ; and (5) Arclwocalamites — are 

 described in detail, with remarks on their relationships, geological 

 position, and distribution. The Calamites (pp. 295-388) are more 

 fully described than the others, with their bibliographic history, the 

 description of the anatomy of their stems (Arthropiti/s, Arthro- 

 denclron, Calamodendron), their leaves (CaJamodadus or Astero- 

 IjhyJlites and Annidaria), their roots, and their cones (Co ?rt«?os<acA?/5, 

 Palaostacliya, and Macrostachya), also the pith-casts of Calamites, 

 Calamitina, Stylocalamites, and Eucalamites (pp. 367-379). A 

 useful tabular summary of the different generic and subgeneric terms 

 used by the author in this excellent account of Calamites is given 

 at p. 381, defining the basis, in the special characters, for each grouj). 



The palaeozoic genus Sphenopliylluyn is defined as showing some 

 points of contact with various living plants ; but it is a nearly 

 isolated type among the Pteridophytes of the Coal-measures. The 

 anatomy of its stem, root, leaves, and cone is fairly well known, 

 and the details are here carefully illustrated, together with remarks 

 on the affinities, range, and habit of the genus. 



The careful list of works referred to in the text fills 26 pages, 

 and the excellent index (12 pages) completes this Vol. I. of a most 

 valuable work, conscientiously and cautiously elaborated. With 

 regard to the researches of others, whether botanists with more or 

 less interest in geology, or geologists often with but little real 

 botanical knowledge, the author is honestly critical, modest in the 

 expression of his own opinions, and courteous in his disapproval, or, 

 wdien necessary, in his rejection, of the views or statements of 

 others. 



