1897 | CURRENT LITERATURE 441 
the gymnosperms cannot be noted ; but it is with some regret that we abandon 
the famous name Welwitschia mirabilis for Tumboa Bainesit. Ant interesting 
addition is also made to the literature of the morphology of angiosperms in 
presenting and illustrating the results of Guignard’s work on Li/ium Martagon. 
Parts 159 and 160 contain Sphaeriales and Laboulbeniinez by G. Lindau, and 
Hemibasidii (Ustilaginee and Tilletiineew) and Uredinales by P. Dietel.— 
A RECENT CONTRIBUTION from the Gray Herbarium contains the results 
of Mr. Fernald’s recent studies.© The first part presents a systematic study of 
the United States and Mexican species of Pectis. A full historical sketch of 
the various groupings of the species precedes the synoptical presentation. 
Thirty-eight species are recognized, and are grouped under five subgenera, 
Eupectis, Pectidopsis, Pectothrix, Heteropectis, and Pectidium. Six new 
species are described. The second part contains descriptions of rare and 
undescribed species collected by Dr. Edward Palmer at Acapulco, Mexico.— 
J 
- 
TEACHER’S LEAFLETS, no. 8,7 is intended to give teachers a knowledge 
of the minute points of difference in leaves and acorns of the white, bur, 
chestnut, swamp white, red, scarlet, and black oaks. It is written by Mr. A. 
-P. Wyman and contains illustrations of the leaves and acorns of each kind 
described. These leaflets must be of great value to teachers who are 
expected to conduct nature study in primary schools.— C. R. B. 
A BOOK of laboratory directions intended primarily to accompany Sedg- 
wick and Wilson’s General Biology has been prepared by Dr. Harriet 
Randolph* of Bryn Mawr College. This provides specific directions for 
laboratory work, occupying about six hours a week for the collegiate year. 
The forms treated are fern, earthworm, amoeba, white blood-corpuscle, 
lichen, mushroom, bacteria, spirogyra, hydra, mussel, lobster, moss, frog, 
fish, pigeon, and rabbit. There are also laboratory directions for the study of 
the stem, bud, leaf, and seed of plants and the circulation of protoplasm, and 
_ for the embryology of the frog and chick. The directions are well arranged 
but seem to us too brief and likely to induce superficiality, especially in view 
of the short time allotted to each organism. The fern (Pteris) cannot 
studied properly in ten hours, the moss (Polytrichum) in five and Penicillium, 
a lichen and a mushroom in four, unless the students are vastly more expert 
than most beginners.— C. R. B. 
6FERNALD, M. nha. from the Gray Herbarium of Harvard Univer- 
_Sity. From Proc. Amer. Acad. 33: 57-94. 1897. 
7 Teachers Leaflets on sites study: prepared by the Doves of Agriculture, 
Cornell University. Address Chief Clerk, as above, Ithaca, 
_ ®Ranpo_px, HarrieT.—Laboratory directions in 7 biology. 12 mo. pp. 
oe New York : or Holt & Co. 1897. 80 cents 
