90 REVIEWS. [March, 



We observe that Mr. Berkeley, in his descriptions of species, 

 sometimes omits to give the colovxr (or colours) of the plant, and 

 this we consider an omission of some importance, especially in a 

 popular work, as the colour in these lower vegetables is often of 

 considerable service in determining the species, and at any rate 

 is a great help to beginners. 



In the nomenclature of the smaller Fungi great improvement 

 has taken place of late years, and many new genera have been 

 formed for the reception of new or anomalous species. Among 

 these we may instance the partition of the old genus Sphceria 

 into a number of distinct genera, corresponding (in general) with 

 the former subdivisions of the genus. We notice, likewise, the 

 transference of several old species to other genera, as Dothidea 

 typhina to Hypocrea, Sphceria Dothidea to Dothidea, Excipula 

 Rubi to Cenangium, etc. etc., all which appear very proper and 

 necessary. 



The volume contains twenty-four coloured plates, which are 

 mostly well executed and faithfully coloured, though we must 

 except several figures, which are not very well done, as Agaricus 

 vaginatus, Boletus edulis, Dacrymyces stillatus, Helvetia crispa, 

 and a few others. The colouring is perhaps too bright in some 

 instances, but in general the illustrations are very good, and it is 

 marvellous to see how many figures the artist has contrived to 

 introduce in a single plate. 



Here, however, we must repeat our regret that so little notice 

 has been taken of the lower and smaller Fungi. We think that 

 at least half-a-dozen plates out of the twenty-four might have 

 been devoted to these, with microscopic delineations of their 

 structure and fructification ; and this would have been of great 

 service to beginners, as it is almost impossible for young students 

 to determine the smaller Fungi without the aid of figures. 



Excelsior, or Murray's Royal Asylum Literary Gazette, Septem- 

 ber, 1860. Perth : printed by Robert Whittet, High Street. 



This number of the ' Murray,' as it may be styled for the sake 

 of brevity, in rather humbler if not in briefer parlance than its 

 primary and more august title, contains for its leader and prin- 



