1895.] Current Literature. 185 
for specific name we must say D. plumbeum Rost., though Rostafinski 
never called the species plumbeum! Piumbea is the oldest specific 
name applied to the object, it is true; but it was under an entirely 
different genus, viz., Fuligo plumbea Schum. 1803. According to Mr. 
Lister’s own ruling the species should now be called D. applanatum 
Rost., for that adopts “the first authentic specific name published 
under the genus in which the species now stands.” Whatever we 
may think of the rule, Mr. Lister does not always observe it. The 
generic changes are on the whole few. Ophiotheca disappears, merged 
with Perichena, and Tilmadoche and Physarum are consolidated as 
they should be. On the other hand we gain a new family, Margari- 
face@, to include the genera, Margarita, Dianema, and Prototrichia. 
The changes in the present volume, as indicated already, come in the 
way of consolidating species. To make too many species is not good 
and revision is always in order; but the crowding of too many forms 
under one specific name is a sinin the opposite direction, induces 
confusion and will by and by provoke a change. Compare, for in- 
stance, Physarum compressum, Physarum berkeleyi, etc. On the whole 
the book will be exceedingly useful to students. The little wood-cut 
sketches will generally aid in the determination of genera and many 
of the most common species are figured in the plates. These are in 
the main excellent, reproduced by photographic process from water- 
color drawings. As a consequence those representing species whose 
natural colors are black and white are reproduced best. The publi- 
cation is by the Trustees of the British Museum, and they may well 
share with the author congratulations on the completion of a beautiful 
and very successful piece of thoroughly scientific work.—Macs 
Minor Notices. 
THE FIRST PUBLICATION from the Field Columbian Museum, of 
Chicago, gives an account of the founding of the museum and a brief 
description of its present collection, with illustrations. The botanical 
department is in charge of Dr. C. F. Millspaugh. It occupies the gal- 
leries, and is particularly rich in forestry exhibits. No mention is 
made of the rather large herbarium which forms a part of the collec- 
tion, but which for obvious reasons can not be displayed. It is en- 
couraging to botanical students that so notable a museum should put 
botany on an equal footing with zoology and other departments. 
Dr. Rotanp THAXTER has continued his publications on Laboul- 
beniaceae by a recent paper in Proc. Amer. Acad. 30: 467. The gen- 
‘Publication I An historical and descriptive — of the Field Columbian 
useum, Chicago, 1894. Vol. 1, no. I. 91 pp. Illus 
