NEW PUBLICATIONS. 251 
Britannica,’ and that the slight sketch he presents may excite a wish 
to apply to the fountain-head for fuller information.” To say that this 
has been accomplished, is to say but little, and we doubt whether much 
more can be said. Not a synonym is given, so that it is impossible to 
determine what species of other authors is meant, unless by turning 
to the *Bryologia Britannica,’ which however is invariably quoted. 
A little more labour would have made the work complete in itself, 
and of an independent value. Surely the explanation of the plates 
given at the end of the volume, and repeated without alteration, so 
as to occupy twenty-six pages at the beginning (for which the pub- 
lishers haye declared themselves responsible), had been better given 
only once, and in its proper place in connection with the plates. The 
space thus gained would have been well employed for synonymy in the 
body of the work. 
The introduction is the most original and not the least valuable, 
part of the volume. It contains a more clear and full account of the 
nature, structure, development, and distribution of Mosses than is to 
found in any other work in our language. 
Mr. Berkeley introduces all the Continental genera which Wilson had 
used as sections or subgenera. Thus, for example, Leskea, which in the 
‘Bryologia Britannica’ contains 9 native species, having some characters 
in common, although differing considerably among themselves, is divided 
into 8 genera, 6 of which are Schimper's, while the remaining 2 are here 
created for the reception of L. (Philoscia, Berk.) latebricola, and L. 
(P latydictya, Berk.) Sprucei. We doubt whether giving a generic 
name to every troublesome species is the best way to get over the - 
difficulties of its affinities. Mr. Berkeley establishes two other new 
genera, Bryella and Cycnea, the first for Phaseum rectum, the other 
for Phascum curvicollum. Among so many changes the want of. 
Synonymy is particularly puzzling. Take an example :—Myurella 
julacea, Sch., is not figured, but reference is given to ** Wils. t. XXIV. 5 
Eng. Bot. t, 2525? Wilson's name, however, in the text and in his 
Plate is Leskea moniliformis, and Smith’s, Pterogonium rotundifolium. 
_ Since Wilson published his ‘ Bryologia Britannica,’ between 30 and 
40 new British Mosses have been discovered ; 8 of these are included 
in the * Handbook,’ but none of them are figured. 
