1895.] Current Literature. 375 
to call “the arbitrary dicta of certain American botanists” animates 
the utterances of the editor of the Journal of Botany. If it does it is 
at least curious that two scientific men should come to such opposite 
conclusions upon the same facts as do Mr. James Britten and a stren- 
uous but gentlemanly opponent whose name we withhold but whose 
voluntary words we are permitted to quote: 
“I have greatly regretted the ill-natured statements of J. Britten, 
especially those in which he implies that there has been any unfair 
E 
CURRENT LITERATURE. 
The fertilization of Flanders flowers. 
In the first part of the introduction the author gives a review of the 
literature of fertilization and pollination, considering the works of 
Camerarius, Koelreuter, Sprengel, Darwin, Hildebrand, Delpino, 
Axell, Miiller, Loew, Burck, Weismann, Wallace, and others. In the 
second part it is insisted that too much importance has been attached 
to the colors of flowers, and that many characters regarded as adapta- 
tions to insects can be otherwise explained. This part also contains 
a discussion of the Knight-Darwin law, and of the theory of Naegeli, 
and observations on methods of elucidation of floral mechanisms. 
_ The body of the work, (pp. 130-562), contains descriptions of the 
indigenous, and some cultivated, species, original and accompanied by 
many original illustrations, or based on the authority of persons cited. 
The insects observed on flowers of the entomophilous species are 
given in each case. The remainder of the work is concerned with 
general considerations and is followed by a résumé in French. 
€ region is characterized by being low, having numerous slow 
Streams, frequent rains, fertile soil, mild winters, and summers of 
moderate heat. There are many anemophilous plants, 215 in a total 
of 675 species, and few flower-loving insects. In a region which is 
Said to be the most densely populated of the most densely populated 
country of Europe, the influence of man must be considerable, and 
this factor is justly estimated by the author. 
_ MacLeod records the results of extensive observations upon the 
*McLzop, Dr. Juttus.—Over de bevruchting der bloemen in het Kempisch 
presses van Vlaanderen. pp. (1-694). Figs. 125. Ghent. 1894. Reprint 
m the Botanisch Jaarboek §: 156-452. 1893.—6: 119-512. 1894. 
