1893,] Current Literature, 149 
Mr. Henry Wixtey has long been identified with the critical study 
of North American lichens, and since the death of Professor Tuck- 
tman has been our lichenologist of largest experience. He has 
issued a pamphlet,’ which he says terminates his thirty years’ labor on 
the New Bedford lichens. Of the 369 species enumerated thirty-nine 
were new when first discovered, the present paper containing four not 
previously defined. The author expresses his regret “ that the Ameri- 
tan professors of botany have so generally accepted the ‘Schwendener 
ry,’ as it is called, that lichens have no independent existence, 
but consist only of a fungus associated with an alga; and this, too, 
‘imply as a dogma, without having acquainted themselves with the 
“guments against it by the prominent lichenographers of Europe, and 
by Professor Tuckerman, in this country, and“ without having made 
“ny Special studies of the plants themselves. These arguments con- 
stitute a considerable body of literature, of which none of these pro- 
ape *eem to have more than a little if any knowledge.” A retort 
's would be easy; but Mr. Willey can rest: assured that whether 
dete ct to preserve their autonomy or are to be considered as won- 
i of symbiosis they will always excite much interest and 
' need of critical study. 
Botay . 
/ > eg who were present at the Washington meeting of the 
public ad nation, will remember Professor J. M. MacFarlane’s 
Address ae. "pon plant hybrids. The full paper,? of which the 
The auth imply a brief popular account, has now been distributed. 
sg has recorded fully his investigation of nine hybrids and 
% to aap ts has, in every case, compared the three individuals 
tin eve haracters and internal structure, and has discovered 
Y Particular the hybrid has an intermediate character. The 
bation of stom, 4S to abundance and kinds of plant hairs, the distri- 
a bas <i the nature of the various tissues, even the structure 
Bing of the and other cell-contents, show a remarkable intermin- 
0 current bi oe of both parents, The bearing of these facts 
View the eg ®gical problems is discussed, but from our point 
Bone of Weism Presented tend more to substantiate such views as 
a “nn and his school than to discredit them. 
ProrEsso 
ae R ~ be i 
| A.S. Hircucock has just distributed the report of his 
5 Peat aod jnw®’:— Enumeration of the Lichens found in New Bedford, 
New Beaionn'Y. from 1862 to 1892. §vo. 40 pp. Printed for the au- 
Mer, 1892. 50 cents, ae 
wi thag’ of WeRHEAD.—A comparison of the minute structure se som 
te 1 8 Transacc, Parents, and its bearing on biological problems. 
Sop 286, 088 Of the Royal Society of Edinburgh xxxvit. pt. 
XVI * - 8. 
