Makch, 1903. 



KNOWLEDGE. 



65 



this section of the translation) has, against his own convictions, 

 retained the division of the " Teleostomi " into the discredited 

 Ganoids and Teleosts. 



The i>resent volume includes all the vertebrates save mammals, 

 which latter are to constitute the third and final volume. As 

 already said, Dr. Smith Woodward, the greatest living authority 

 on the subject, has undertaken the translation and revision of 

 the chapters on fossil fishes. Dr. E. C. Case, of Wisconsin, has 

 done the same for the amphibians, and has collaborated with 

 other authorities in the reptilian section of the work. For the 

 birds, Mr. F. A. Lucas, of the U.S. Museum, is responsible. 



As a whole, we have nothing but commendation for this 

 volume, which displays on every page full evidence of the care 

 and attention bestowed on its preparation by the translators. 

 Although the figures are much less numerous than in the large 

 edition of Zittel, they are amply sufficient for the needs of the 

 ordinary student ; and the descriptions of the genera and larger 

 groups are concise and not over-loaded with detail. So far as 

 we can see, the work (save for certain details of classification, 

 to one of which allusion has been made above) is thoroughly 

 up to date, and therefore a safe guide to the student. 



Space does not admit of any attempt at detailed criticism, 

 but it may be mentioned that the translators follow the 

 original in classing the leathery turtle in the same subordinal 

 group as the ordinary turtles — a course in which we think they 

 are fully justified by the facts. On the other hand, we cannot 

 agree with Mr. Lucas that Pahipteriix is the proper name for the 

 elephant-footed moa ; neither do we like the use of the name 

 Theromorpha for the extinct auomodont reptiles. But these 

 are details. As a whole, the book seems singularly free from 

 misprints and other typographical errors, but we notice that in 

 the figure of the quadrate of MnMisaurus, on p. 155, there is no 

 indication in the legend as to the part of the skeleton to which 

 the specimen belongs. The low price of this excellent volume 

 renders it within the means of almost every student. 



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FAMILIAR BRITISH WILD FLOWERS AND 



THEIR ALLIES. 



By R. Lloyd Praeger, b.a. 



II.— THE ROSE FAMILY.* 

 The Rosacie, although their flowers are so different in 

 appearance from those of the Legvminosx (which were 

 briefly dealt with in my last article), are nevertheless 

 closely related to them, and may naturally be considered 

 after them. The Rose family forms a tolerably large group 

 of plants, differing widely in appearance, and while they 

 are conveniently grouped together in one Natural Order, 

 they nevertheless embrace several sections so well marked 

 that these have often been treated as separate Orders. 

 The Rosacea} number over a thousand species — trees, 

 shrubs, and herbs — ^ which are distributed all over the 

 world, but are, m the main, plants of the temperate regions 

 of the Northern Hemisphere. The most striking feature 

 of the Order is the fleshy fruits possessed by many of 

 them, which, by cultivation, yield us the greater number 

 of our native fruits. Equally famous is the wonderful 

 range of beautiful blossoms that have been produced by 

 cultivation of certain species of the typical genus of the 

 Order, Rosa. Various parts of a large number of plants 

 of the Order possess medicinal properties. The bark and 

 root of many are astringent, owing to the presence of 

 tannin. More well-known is the presence of prussic acid 

 in the sub-orders Drupaceie (Plums, <fcc.) and Pomacecs 

 (Apples and Pears). This violent poison has so powerful 

 a taste and odour, that a minute quantity is immediately 

 recognizable, as we may notice especially in the Bitter 

 -Almond. It is pi'esent in the seeds of most members of 

 these sub-orders, and often also in the leaves, as in the 

 common Cherry Laurel (Pninus Lauro-cerasus), which 

 contains enough prussic acid to kill in a short time insects 

 which are enclosed with a few crushed leaves. 



Let us briefly review the various sub-orders into which 

 RosacecB may be divided. Ghrysohalanew are the only 

 group which is not represented in 

 the British Islands. These are 

 tropical and sub-tropical trees and 

 shrubs, found both in the Old and 

 New World. Most of them have 

 stone-fruits; to this section belongs 

 the Cocoa Plum {Clirysohalanus 

 Icaco) of the West Indies. Prunew 

 is a group of much economic im- 

 portance, including as it does many 

 well-known stone-ftruits, such as 

 Almond, Peach, Nectarine, Plum, 

 Damson, Apricot and Cherry. Here 

 belong also the Cherry Laurel 

 and Portuguese Laurel of our 

 shrubberies. This is essentially a 

 North-Temperate group of trees 

 and shrubs. Sinrieaceae are also 

 chiefly North-Temperate. The Meadow-Sweet {Spireea 

 Ulmaria), which will serve as a type, has a fruit 

 very different from those of the last group, consisting 

 of a little ring of twisted follicles. Spinea is the 



• For the use of the figures illustrating this Article, the writer 

 expresses his obligatiou to Messrs. C. GrilUn & Co. They are taken 

 from his " Open-Air Studios iu Botauy." 



Fig. 1.— Fruit of the 

 Meadow-Sweet (Spiraa 

 Ulmaria). Half natural 

 size. 



