who observe these curious plants and have no way of studying them. 

 Professor Durand finds the following species in the United States : 

 Mitrula 6, Spathularia 2, Leotia 3, Vibrissea 2, Apostemidium 2, Cu- 

 donia 3, Geoglossum 24. The latter genus he divides into five small 

 genera. The old genera are divided nowadays by a process of divi- 

 sion like the multiplication of bacteria. It has the advantage from 

 a "systematic" point of view that there is no limit to it, nor to the 

 new combinations that can be made in this manner. Several have 

 tinkered with the genus Geoglossum: Saccardo, Massee, Boudier, 

 Durand, and others. The only thing common to their work is the 

 uniform diversity of the results. 



As to specific names, Professor Durand is an earnest follower 

 after "priority." The German edict has gone forth that species have 

 to conform to priority, but genera do not. The result is a reversal 

 of many familiar, specific names, and the installation of others of much 

 less merit. Sometimes this automatic process produces most gro- 

 tesque results. For instance, we are commanded to call the common 

 yellow Geoglossum, which is always yellow, Geoglossum rufum. 

 "Rufum" is a word from one of the dead languages, meaning reel. 

 Professor Durand names the Geoglossum "rufum," and then tells us 

 "it is easily known by the yellow color of every part." He would 

 probably have more regard for the fitness of things if he were naming 

 a yellow dog. 1 



There is one feature of Professor Durand's paper that is an 

 eloquent testimony to his thorough, complete knowledge of the sub- 

 ject. After working over hundreds of specimens of Geoglossums he 

 finds only nine new species. It is usually a safe rule to judge of the 

 knowledge of a man who works in an old field by an inverse propor- 

 tion to the relative number of "new species" he finds. The fewer old 

 ones he knows, the more new ones he always finds. 



Professor Durand's work is a credit to American mycology and 

 will always be the authority on these plants. We wish there were 

 other groups worked up in the same manner. One such paper as 

 Durand issues is worth more than the lifetime work of the average 

 hit-and-miss "new species" exploiter. 



FIGURE X6. 



We find that a most convenient way to illustrate small objects or 

 details, such as pores, etc., is to photograph them (enlarged) direct. 

 We have a lens that makes a magnification of about six diameters. 

 We have taken many photographs with this enlargement, and many- 

 figures of this nature will appear in future issues. We shall mark 

 these figures X6, and think the matter will be understood without 

 further explanation. 



J In Paris "Black" is a common name for a dog, and it does not make much differ- 

 ence what his color is. I suppose some Frenchman who knew a little English had a black 

 dog some time that he called "Black." It seems to be a good name for a dog, at least it 

 is largely used in Paris. The French may name their dogs in this way if they wish, but I 

 do not believe it is the correct principle to apply to the naming of plants. 



434 



