1895.] Current Literature. 507 
scribed and the numerous opinions expressed in such a work. It will 
Soon be in the hands of all working botanists, and it is sufficient to 
Say that it is worthy of its predecessors. The history of this work, as 
of all extensive works undertaken by a single man, emphasizes the 
fact that although there may be a gain in uniformity, there is certainly 
a great loss in timeliness, and that such works are usually abandoned 
before completion. It is generally too difficult an undertaking, when 
one considers the extremely rapid evolution of botanical science, to 
profitably complete in uniform style a work which has been begun in 
4 preceding generation. Now that we have seen the quality of Dr. 
Robinson’s work we wish, as we have done for seventeen years, that 
Some plan could be devised by which its completion could be 
hastened. 
Saecardo’s Sylloge Fungorum. 
Another massive volume has now been added to the monumental 
Work by Professor Saccardot enumerating all described species of 
fungi. Ten volumes have previously been published, embracing de- 
scriptions of 38,163 species, to which the present volume adds 4,220 
Species. Of these 1,165 are North American fungi, chiefly new 
Mcrease in the number of known fungi makes such a publication as 
the Sylloge one of great value to every working mycologist. This list 
of more than four thousand species is almost entirely the product of 
the botanical activity of only the last three years, and there is no like- 
lihood of diminution for some time to come. ‘The diversity in the 
methods and places of publication is astonishingly wide, and the neces- 
Sity of such a work to one who desires to keep abreast of the myco- 
logic literature is evident at a glance. To mention but a single illus- 
tration: of the ninety-two species of Uredinez cited from North Amer- 
1ca, the original descriptions are published in twelve different periodi- 
cals, four of which are foreign. Other orders and regions might 
furnish even more conspicuous evidences of the indispensable char- 
*Saccardo, P. A.: Sylloge fungorum omnium hucusque cognitorum. Sup- 
Plementum universale. Pats III. Adjectus est index operis universalis. Vol. 
XI. Patavii, July 1895. Roy. 8vo. 753 pp. 48 francs. 
