BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 283 
Mr. F. Lamson Scrrpner has published a revision of the North American 
Melice in the Proceedings of the Philadelphia Academy. The genus is divided 
into three sections, GLYCERI& (3 species), EUMELICA (8 species), and BroMEL- 
IcA (4 species). The five new I i prop d (1) M. Ti y ( p ted f 
M. imperfecta Trin.) from California, (2) M. frutescens from the same State, (3) 
M. spectabile (M. bulbosaof Bot. King’s Exp. and Fl. Colorado), (4) M. Californica 
(M. bulbosa, Thurber, in Bot. Calif.), and (5) M. subulata (Bromus subulatus< 
M. acuminata of Bot. Calif.) M. mutica, var. diffusa is raised to specific rank as 
M. diffusa, Pursh. M. Porteri, Scribner, includes M. mutica, var. parviflora of Fl. 
Colorado, and M. stricta of Brandegee’s Fl. S. W. Col. M. mutica, var. glabra of 
Gray’s Manual is M. mutica, Walt. A full list of localities and collectors com- 
pletes this excellent paper. 
Journal of Botany for April Thomas Hick describes (with plate) 
protoplasmic continuity in Fucacee. Ascophyllum nodosum is the form chiefly 
described. All the methods of treatment are given so that confirmatory work 
is made very easy. In every case at the ends of the cells concerned there is an 
annular thickening on the internal wall, which is unlike the cell wall under the 
ction of ad + para ae fth Py Se oe 
Four types of continuity are given, viz., (1) the ring surrounds a comparatively 
wide and open pore, through which the protoplasm is continuous in a single 
thread ; (2) a delicate diaphragm stretches across the space enclosed by the ring, 
and through this the protoplasm is continuous, as through a sieve plate, by a 
number of delicate threads (the commonest form); (3) like the second, except 
that the continuity is effected by a thin and delicate ribbon of protoplasm, 
which passes through a narrow slit in the diaphragm; (4) the diaphragm is 
complete except at the center, where is an extremely minute pore, through 
which a single delicate strand of protoplasm maintains the continuity. 
CURRENT LITERATURE. 
A Course of Practical Instruction in Botany; Part I. Phanerogamve-Pleridophyta. 
By F. 0, Bower, M. A., F. L. S., and Sidney H. Vines, M. A. D. Se., F. L. 8, 
with a preface by W. T. Thiselton Dyer. Macmillan & Co., London, 1885. 
12°. 226 pp. 
Ten years ago Huxle d Martin’s Elementary Biology was published. 
It Was the first Eiciraies, caaunal of the kind, and the excellency of its con- 
is suc , Mr. F. O. Bower, ™ 
with the assistance of Dr. Vines, of Christ’s College, we are indebtec 
