CURRENT LITERATURE. 
An introduction to structural botany. 
This book contains a description of the morphology of the wall- 
flower, white lily, and spruce fir as types of dicotyledons, monocotyle- 
dons, and gymnosperms, respectively. In writing it Dr. Scott has 
intended to make it a first guide to the study of the structure of the 
seed plants, and has sought to put before beginners in the study of 
botany information which is correct as far as it goes. The book is of 
course to be used only in connection with laboratory study of the 
plants themselves. The author has succeeded admirably in execut- 
ing his design, and there is little to be criticised unfavorably. One can 
hardly help the feeling that for beginners he sometimes goes too far 
into details, but it is not easy to say what should be passed over. 
Aside from a few unfortunate phrases, such as “male flower,” what 
we should consider a blemish in the book arises from the order of 
treatment. The author begins with the seed plants. Had he made 
the proposed second volume on cryptogams the first, we think he 
would have done wisely. But there will always be difference of opin- 
ion on this point, and Professor Scott doubtless — carefully 
the objections and advantages in both modes of treatm 
By reason of the order selected, however, he meets sesipeahie dif- 
ficulties in the presentation of a really modern view of the flower and 
the reproductive organs connected with it. There is no hint at the nat- 
ure of pollen grains and the embryo sac, or of the cells formed in 
them. In discussing the gymnosperms he is obliged to refer to the 
resemblance of the sexual organs of the female gametophyte to cor- 
responding organs in certain cryptogams. If it be replied that these 
are matters too recondite for an elementary book on morphology, it 
may be answered that they would be matters of course had they been 
approached from the other direction. Naturally one can not drive 
the butt end of the wedge into a lo 
An excellent chapter on atrition: is introduced after the deactine 
tion of the two angiosperms; from which we fear the ordinary student 
(whose capacity for misunderstanding is almost limitless) might infer 
that the matter did not apply to the gymnosperms. 
We trust that Dr. Scott will find this volume meeting with such suc- 
cess that he will soon prepare the companion volume on cryptogams. 
UScoTT, An introduction to oe botany ence plants). 
12mo. pp. xii + 288, figs. 113. London: A. & C. Black. [New York: Mac 
illan & Co. $1.00.] 
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