1892. | Current Literature. 225 
When the departments of the GazeTrTe were differentiated, “Briefer 
Articles” was established to receive communications of less than two 
pages. Later “Open Letters” was provided for those who chose to put 
items of interest, discussion or criticism into this form. And for the 
briefest, “Notes and News” is always waiting. ; 
The Gazetre does not print all MSS. which are sent to it. But we 
can truthfully say that no communication was ever rejected because it 
Was too short or would interest only amateurs. On the contrary we 
welcome the noies by amateurs for amateurs, and lament the decrease 
of “briefer articles.” 
CURRENT LITERATURE. 
The Myxomycetes of eastern Iowa. 
The leading paper of the latest number of the Bwdletin of the lab- 
oratories of natural history of the State University of Iowa * is a de- 
Scriptive catalogue of the myxomycetes of eastern Iowa, by Prof. T. 
- McBride. Sixty-six species are described, and most of them are 
beautifully figured on the ten plates drawn by Miss Mary McBride to 
accompany the monograph. Incomplete as it may be for its own lo- 
ity and for others further removed, there are many botanists who 
ve desired to know something of the group who will welcome this 
Work, and will thank its author for the care and labor he has expended 
mits preparation. We trust that it is only preliminary to a fuller and 
More elaborate account of the species of the upper Mississippi valley. 
We Suggest as an improvement for the next edition, that the author 
catty his “keys” further, to include the species of the larger genera, 
Such as Trichia and Physarum. It is a help to the beginner, out of all 
Proportion to the labor it costs the author, to have some clue to the 
Species, after he has been led by keys to the genus. 
The Missouri Botanical Garden. 
The thi 
te td annual report of this institution was issued about the 
of Ju The report of the director, Dr. William Trelease, 1s 
ly, 1 
ol. M, no. 2, Pp. 99—162, pl. 10.—June 1892. 
