Bihliographical Notice. 83 



considers that each part of their structure should be taken into ac- 

 count, with especial regard to their mutual differences, but that our 

 knowledge of the Pezlzce is too limited at present to enable us to 

 make use of the spermagonia as a means of systematic arrangement, 

 a few scattered observations not sufficing to that end. He observes, 

 however, that in cases of doubtful affinity an acquaintance with 

 these bodies is of great value. The chief aim in descriptions should 

 be that the various types may be easily distinguished, falling at once 

 into their proper places. 



A synoptic table of the Finnish Pezizce follows, demonstrating 

 the care taken by the author to render his treatise as complete and 

 useful to the student as possible. Notices of a few species of Asco- 

 bolus are also added. This genus, he observes, differs but little from 

 Peziza, the characters relied on as essential not being constant. 

 Dr. jS^ylander proposes others, such as the fuscous -violet colour of 

 the matiu-e sporidia. and a peculiar reaction under iodine not appa- 

 rent in Peziza, those bodies in Ascoholus assuming a more intense 

 violet, whilst the asci turn pale blue, as in certain species of the 

 former genus. The character of clavate or cylindrical asci he con- 

 siders of little value, both forms often occurring in the same speci- 

 men, as the sporidia happen to form one or two rows — a remark in 

 which we are disposed to concur. The distinct operculum of the 

 asci is only found in a few species, and therefore not to be relied on. 

 Only three species appear to be represented in the Finnish Museum, 

 — A. furfuraceus, P., A. gJaher, P., and A. immersus, P. In a note 

 under A. glaher, P., he corrects the error of Coemans, who has cited 



A. Kerverni, Crouan, under that name. Ascoholus macrosporus, 

 Crouan, is quoted as a synonym of A. immersus, P., which it does 

 not much resemble so far as Persoon's figure is concerned, answer- 

 ing better to the description. Fries's characters of A.porpliyrosporus, 

 Fr., would induce us to bring it under the same species. ^Ye have 

 no means of comparing A. rnfopalUdus, Karsten, with A. vinosus, B., 

 nor his A. lapponicus with A. gJaher, P., as given by Eabenh. (F. E. 

 exsicc. No. 778), nor A. diffonnis, Karsten, with A. testaceus, 



B. & Br. ; but it is not improbable that they are synonymous. A. 

 airneus, P., according to Finnish specimens, has larger fruit than 

 A. gramdiformis, Crouan, to which species we have been hitherto 

 disposed to refer it. 



Notes on a few Sphseriacei are given in an Appendix. Sphceria 

 mammata, Wahl. =:Sph(eria {Hypoxylon) midtiformis, Fr. S. dupli- 

 cella, Nyl., is new. S. vicimda, Nyl., and S. pruniformis, Nyl., 

 S. sorhina, Nyl., and S. dacrymycella, Nyl., have been published in 

 the ' Flora.' 



A full index of species, varieties, and synonyms completes the work. 



In concluding our notice of Prof. Nylander's treatise we will only 

 add that it is a record of observations quite essential to every bota- 

 nist who wishes to stiidy the genus Peziza, containing also nimierous 

 remarks bearing on the proper method to be pursued in investigating 

 natural history in general ; and as such we would recommend it 

 strongly to all who are interested in that study. 



6* 



