cropped short by grazing. The photograph represents specimens (one- 

 half) the usual size, though in some cases they attain double this di- 

 mension. That would indicate a diameter of about sixteen inches for 

 the largest specimens. It is the largest Clathrus known. The base of 

 the network is always wrinkled and the entire plant is very tender 

 and fragile. 



Our best thanks are extended to Mr. Laing for the photograph 

 and information, which give us exactly the points of interest we de- 

 sired. We hope now some of our Australian friends will furnish a 

 photograph and notes on Clathrus gracilis, which is common in Austra- 

 lia but has never been photographed. 



A NEW WORK ON FUNGI. 



Simple, introductory books on fungi are badly needed in the Eng- 

 lish language, and I am particularly glad to call the attention of our 

 American mycologists to a book recently issued in England. It is by 

 E. W. Swanton, entitled "Fungi and how to know them." It is writ- 

 ten in plain, simple language, and is profusely illustrated, and any 

 American student can take this book and determine not only almost 

 all the genera, but many of the species he will meet in our country. 

 It is a curious fact, but it is true that the species that occur in Eng- 

 land are by far the greater part the same as occur in America and 

 the temperate world in general. 



The Gastromycetes of Mr. Swanton's book are (with one ex- 

 ception) correctly classified and named. 1 We commend the book not 

 only for what it contains but for what it omits. W r e note with pleasure 

 the absence of a number of myths that commonly occur in the "puff- 

 ball" literature of England. 



There is another feature for which I think the book should be 

 highly praised, the absence of all personal advertisements. Plants have 

 Latin names, and as the usual English reader does not speak Latin 

 very fluently, it is very useful to employ space, as Mr. Swanton does, 

 to explain the meaning of these Latin names. Much more useful, in 

 my opinion, than to occupy the same space with a lot of personal 

 names of no possible interest except to the parties concerned, and 

 most of them are dead. 



The American student who has two recently issued books, viz.: 

 Swanton "Fungi and how to 'know them" and Hard "Mushrooms 

 edible and otherwise" is in good position to make rapid advancement 

 in his knowledge of the fungi he finds. Swanton's work is probably 

 not on sale in America, but can be obtained by sending two dollars 

 to G. E. Stechert & Co., No. 129 W. 2Oth St.,' New York, who will 

 import the book on request. 



There are some cases, such as Myriostoma coliformis which appears as Geaster coli 

 formis, which are differences of opinion, not errors. I!ut Rovista pusilla is an error, for il 

 can not be included in the genus Bovista under any logical classification. 



448 



