284 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [Apri 
merely for those interested in determining ferns, and it stops precisely at the 
point where interest for the specialist begins. 
Another principle in the selection of species has been to include those 
which are remarkable in structure, phylogenetic character, or biological 
peculiarity. Those genera which, as he says, “are weakly expressed, show- 
ing only one or a few disappearing species,” he omits in favor of those which 
are rich in species and uniform in character. He also omits peculiar island 
types, such as those of the Sandwich islands, Madagascar, etc.; nor does he 
include the rich fern flora of the Andes. His contention is that a compre 
hensive monograph, with a critical catalogue of all species, would be a work 
of several volumes, and would not serve the general purpose he has in view. 
With all these restrictions he presents 99 genera and 1154 species. 
No analytic keys are provided, but simple descriptions of genera, set 
tions, and species are depended upon to guide sufficiently. The author 
claims that a safe key is only possible for a limited flora and small genera, 
and that the more inclusive the key the more unsafe does it become. The 
descriptions are exceedingly simple, technical terminology being avoided $0 
far as possible. : 
An excellent feature of the book is to be found in the numerous illustra- 
tions in the text accompanying the descriptions. These illustrations show : 
a glance the characters described by the text. It would bea useful pe 
American students of ferns had a translation of this handy and simple 
ume.—J. M. C 
Text-book of lichenology.* 
IT Is so long since any work on lichens has been 
American author that we take up Dr. Schneider's book with 
In the preface we find this statement: ‘This work is primaril 
text-book for the use of students in colleges and universities, but ee oi 
_ found useful to the specialist.” Our secretly cherished hope pre in 
of lichens is to be popularized begins to fade away when we pe subjects 
ment. As we glance over the technical treatment outlined for re whom it 
the hope entirely disappears. The book will be useful ate e for 
add greatly 
published by ® 
especial interest. 
schematic. The subject-matter is divided into two ash : 
the history, general morphology and physiology of lichens; ae 
classification and special morphology of lichens. This is stated Se 
The first subject treated is the history of lichenology- a a 
‘SCHNEIDER, ALBERT.—A_ text-book of general lichen 1807+ 
PP. 230, 76 plates. Binghamton, N. Y.: Willard N. Clute & Company 
y intended 84 
a 
ag 
