Mai-ch 1 8, 1886] 



NATURE 



459 



In Fig. 5 the cystocarps and sph;i;rospore5, in dilierent 

 degrees of development, are represented. 



Two other genera at present but little known, namely, 

 Marchesettia (Hauck) and Melanoseris (Zan.), are also 

 commented on. The former is a most singular alga, in 

 appearance much more like a branched sponge than a 

 plant, and, except for the little deep-red fruit-leaflets, it 

 might readily be taken for one. The discovery of the 

 fruit shows that its affinities are with Thamnoclonium. 

 One of the several new species of this genus, described 

 in the present work, so much resembles Marcheicttia, 

 that it has been named T. MarcJiesettioides. 



The other genus, Melanoseris, is nearly related to 

 Pollexfenia, from which it is distinguished by the fruit 

 in the former being marginal, instead of on the disk, as 

 in the latter, and by its smaller size. 



Halymcitia saccata (Harv. and H. " Fl. Tasm.'") has long 

 been a puzzle to algologists. Dr. Agardh now refers it to 

 Bindera, supporting his opinion by a comparison of the 

 structure and fruit with those of Rinticra splachiwides (see 

 pp. 41-46, and Fig. 3). 



Another plant, Amansia? Marchantioides, first men- 

 tioned in the " Flora of New Zealand," had not, hitherto, 

 been accurately determined. Dr. Agardh now considers 

 it to be a Placophora. 



Among the more interesting of the new species is 

 CliftOHO'a iinbricata, of which one specimen only has yet 

 been discovered. This was also the case with C. semi- 

 pennata, of which one example only is known to exist. 



The present work is illustrated by one plate. The 

 eight figures are printed in a red ink, which is somewhat 

 dazzling to the eyes. 



In conclusion, we venture to suggest that Gracilariii 

 Millardetii (p. 64) should be G. Maillarde/ii, the plant 

 having been named by Montagne Rkodyinenia Maillar- 

 detii, in honour of J\I. Maillard, the author of " Notes sur 

 I'lle de Reunion." 



OUR BOOK SHELF 

 Practical Chemistry, wit/t Notes aitd Questions on Theo- 

 retical Chemistry. By William Ripper, Assistant Pro- 

 fessor of Mechanical Engineering, Sheffield Technical 

 School. Second Edition. (London : Isbister and Co., 

 1885.) 



Truly the number of little books coming into existence, 

 presumably to aid students to do the Science and Art 

 Department's examinations, is very great, and they are not 

 by any means always good. The evil of a big book has 

 evidently been well seen by chemical teachers, and more 

 especially by teachers connected with the Department's 

 examinations, many little books springing up intended 

 originally for the class or school to which the teacher is 

 attached only. In some, the greater number of cases 

 perhaps, this is a very happy thing for students in general. 

 When a book of this kind passes through two editions in 

 a reasonably short time there is some cause for its sur- 

 vival. The book before us has evidently fulfilled its 

 mission in a fairly satisfactory manner. It is still de- 

 cidedly one of the cramming class, but it contains an 

 amount of matter simply and well arranged which, with 

 the aid of a teacher, or demonstrations, should enable 

 any ordinarily industrious student to " pass " the first 

 stage of the " Department's " examinations. 



The first part contains descriptions of experiments on 

 the non-metallic elements, reactions for metals and acids, 

 and tables for the examination of a simple salt. The 



second part, called " Theoretical Chemistry," is mostly 

 equations, and questions and problems. 



Free Public Libraries; their Ore^anisation, Uses, and 



Atanai^ement. By Thomas Greenwood, F.R.G.S. 



(London : Simpkin, Marshall, and Co., 1886.) 

 If in Her Majesty's dominions there is a spot where 

 newspapers do not penetrate and where free libraries 

 are only known by name, and yet where some pioneering 

 spirit only requires a spark to set aflame the desire to 

 start such an institution, this book will be a fitting flint 

 and steel for the purpose. But as such a combination is 

 to be found in very few places, we cannot encourage the 

 writer to hope that many will read his 500 pages of news- 

 paper cuttings with much satisfaction. To any reader 

 who is within measurable distance of earnestly consider- 

 ing that " most interesting question of the day— ho\y to 

 work a free library in a small community " — nine- 

 tenths of tlJs book, commencing its survey as it does at 

 the British iSIuseum, will be provokingly irrelevant ; he 

 will grudge the time taken up in finding where the 

 practical information is scattered. As a missionary book, 

 crying in the wilderness the advent of knowledge, it is 

 less likely to make its way than the newspapers from 

 which it is compiled, and it is thoroughly wanting in the 

 eloquent earnestness of the prophet. 



Still there is much excellent advice to those who know 

 nothing about the matter ; and since it seems to have 

 been written, as the compiler says, " with the earnest 

 hope of increasing the number of free libraries " (there 

 are 133 now open in Great Britain) we gladly call to it 

 the attention of any to whom such a book as we describe 

 may be useful. The combination in the writer of librarian 

 and newspaper editor has made easy to him much that 

 would have been a considerable labour to others who 

 might have gone more deeply into the subject, and his 

 information is brought down to marvellously recent date. 



The hasty way in which it has been put together is 

 illustrated by an account on p. 83 of " first failures," 

 which apparently apply to Sheffield, and are not dis- 

 covered to belong to Newcastle-upon-Tyne till three 

 pages further on there comes a full-page engraving of the 

 important building opened there in 1S84 by the Prince of 

 Wales. A puzzled reader may guess that a short para- 

 graph on p. 100 should have introduced its history, but that 

 it found its present place among the author's notes through 

 confusion of the name with that of Newcastle-under- 

 Lynie. The same haste appears in more important 

 matters. Mr. Greenwood very properly urges the im- 

 portance of the librarian as the " vocal key to the cata- 

 logues," and gives a touching illustration of the value of 

 knowledge and sympathy in that officer. " Wives and 

 children come for books, and make the request, ' Please 

 pick me a nice one, sir, for if I take home an interesting 

 book, my husband (or father, as the case may be) will 

 stop in during the evening and read it to us.' " We must 

 point out the inconsistency between this and the un- 

 qualified advice he gives to the hbrarian not to stand "at 

 the desk entering out and taking in the books, and so^ 

 uselessly employed in doing the work of a boy." It will 

 be found that as such a librarian stands at the counter 

 and hears the wants expressed of the class for whose 

 benefit chiefly these libraries are considered to be esta- 

 blished, the circulation of books will increase ; while if it 

 is left to a boy to do the work, the popularity, the circula- 

 tion, and to a far greater extent the good work, of a free 

 library will fafl off The same consideration also should 

 qualify the zeal with which the use of indicators is urged, 

 which, though tlieoretically very simple, and to the 

 hbrary officials very time-saving things, yet practically do 

 not work where any attempt is made to accommodate the 

 class just referred to, or an unlearned public who, it will 

 be found, luonU use catalogues. For one minute, how- 

 ever, which they save the librarian, they hinder five 



