84 The Botanical Gazette. (February, 
priate. We would raise the question, also, as to the wisdom of the 
numerous “forms for study.” It smacks too much of the swarm of 
schemes for “plant analysis,” which seek to compel the student to ob- 
serve and think within rigid lines. Our objection is the pedagogical 
one that the student cannot be compelled too early to cultivate the 
habit of independence. Thecriticisms offered are all of minor impor- 
tance excepting the fundamental one concerning modern morphology, 
and we cannot but think that even pharmacists would be the better of 
breathing the air of the modern laboratory, even if they handled no 
other structures than those indicated. 
Mosses of France. 
The Muscologia Gallica' has been completed by the issue of part 14- 
We have from time to time commented upon this very useful work as 
it appeared. The fourteen parts have averaged over thirty-two pages 
of text and nine plates, and have been appearing at irregular intervals ~ 
since 1884. It is greatly to be regretted that Mr. Husnot did not give 
us the date of publication of each part, and we hope he will supply 
this information in the Revue Bryologigue. The keys accompanying 
each genus seem good, and are certainly useful; but the want of classi- 
fication beyond the genera and suborders Acrocarpz and Pleurocarp® 
is unfortunate. The author certainly ought to have given the orders 
and families a place. 
The genus Orthotrichum, treated by Venturi, and the § Harpidium 
of Hypnum, by Renauld, go far outside the limits of France, or eve? 
the contrées voisines, and contain much that applies to our own species. 
This is particularly the case with the latter, which is really a mond 
graph of the group. 
The high price of the book will somewhat limit its sale we fear, but 
its author, lithographer, and publisher in one deserves much credit for 
his enterprise and financial reward for his labor. 
On geographical distribution. 
Dr. C. Hart MERRIAM, in a recent address, distributed as a reprint 
from Wat. Geog. Mag. 6: 229, has given an account of the laws of tem- 
perature control of the geographic distribution of terrestrial animals 
and plants. Dr. Merriam for several years has been investigating, UD 
der the Department of Agriculture, the subject of geographic distribu- 
tion, and the present address is an abstract of the principal results. It 
1Husnot, Th.—Muscologia Gallica; descriptions et figures des mousses 
an de 
rance et des contrées voisines. Roy. 8vo. pp. 458. pl. 125. C - published 
by the author. 1884-1894. 70 fr. ay Pp. 459°. P 5 ahan: publis 
