468 The Botanical Gazette. [December, 
chiefly at one, it istrue. A more unscientific and unlovely spectacle it 
would be-hard to find, than this disparagement of fifty or sixty other 
botanists because they choose to honor, however slightly, one whom 
she dislikes. Such bitter personalities only awaken compassion and 
stir regret; they are now-a-days unworthy of rejoinder. 
CURRENT LITERATURE. ° 
A Cuban text-book on botany. 
An interesting phase of development of botanical teaching on this 
side of the Atlantic, is denoted by the recently issued text “Elementos 
de Botanica” part 1, by Dr. Juan Vilaré Diaz, of the University of 
Havana. 
In a lengthy preface, Dr. de la Maza states that the work is called 
out by the want of a text in Spanish, and by the fact that foreign texts 
use, for illustration of plant phenomena, forms with which the Cuban 
student can not become familiar, and are otherwise unsuitable to ac- 
company the courses of lectures in natural history offered in that 
University. Quite naturally he holds that the student can derive 
more practical advantage and general instruction from a study of the 
“forms that live in the beautiful climate of the magnificent Antilles.” 
The author divides the subject into static and dynamic botany. 
The volume just issued is concerned with the first, which it eonsiders 
under the heads of cellulography, anatomy, morphology, embryology: 
The relationship of the cell constituents is clearly outlined, and 
the author extends the text to include brief discussion of phases 0 
the behavior and products of protoplasm, which do not usually find a 
place in elementary works. As an instance, under colors are pata 
graphs on pigments, origin and biological significance of colors, illu- 
mination, etiolation, protective colors, preventive colors, sexual colors 
typical colors, and attractive colors. 
Throughout the entire work, forms and their relations are correlated 
with the more general functions of the organs in a manner that is very 
attractive. The economic relations of the plant are everywhere 
touched upon, and the author makes quite an excursion into the “trop- 
isms,” movements and carnivorous action. Under the latter head @ 
cut and some interesting matter on the carnivorous action of Pingu 
ula, is taken from the U. S. Fish Commission report for 1885- 
It could not be expected that the author of a pioneer text in such 2 
musical language, would deny himself the privilege of ntoon 
some new terms into our hazy terminology. He has, however, bu 
