1904] CURRENT LITERATURE 467 
Gasteromycetes of Hungary. 
HOLL6s’s imposing monograph of the Gasteromycetes of Hungary, the Ger- 
man edition of which has recently come from the press, will form one of the most 
valuable additions to the literature of this group. One cannot read the intro- 
ductory parts of this work without feeling that the most careful and critical atten- 
tion has been given to every detail. 
In 1896 the author, as he tells us, began to devote exclusively to the study of 
the gasteromycetes the time that his duties as teacher in the Staatsoberrealschule 
in Kecskemét left at his disposal. From this time until the completion of the work 
material was collected principally by innumerable excursions into the various 
parts of Hungary, while many specimens were received from collectors throughout 
the country. By purchase or exchange the author was able to secure numerous 
types from other European countries and from America, thus making possible a 
direct comparison of specimens representing species common to these countries. 
The scope of the study was still further widened by visits to all the important col- 
lections of gasteromycetes in Europe. 
n the work, which is a large folio volume, eighty-one species and many 
varieties are described and illustrated. These represent all the forms known 
to occur in Hungary. To the technical descriptions the author has added his 
own observations, both adding to the original description and pointing out many 
peculiarities of appearance or form occurring during the different stages of the 
growth of the plants. ‘These incidental characters, that are too often omitted in 
descriptions, bring to the mind a clearer picture of the plant in question than the 
categorical enumeration of technical characters. The text includes complete 
citations of specimens seen by the author, enabling the future student to identify 
the plants which the author had in mind or h’s descriptions and drawings. A 
full list of synonyms is found at the end of the descriptive portion 
The work contains thirty-one beautifully executed plates, printed by a color- 
type process from colored drawings and from colored photograph . In the illus- 
trat ons the author has endeavored to represent specimens showing the different 
stages and forms in which the fungus is likely to be found. Variable species are 
more fully illustrated. Five plat s a e devoted to the forms of Secolium agart- 
coides. Microscopical details are added in most cases. 
The complete descriptions, full synonomy and citation , and the excellent 
illustrat ons are three features that will insure this book a position of authority 
among taxonomic works. Not only will it be of value to the students of the coun- 
try for which it was written, but also to American students, for most of the gastero- 
mycetes have a world-wide distribution. Of the forms described nearly all . 
in this country and specimens of many of these were seen and cited by the author. 
—H. HAssELprine. 
5 HoLiés, LapisLaus, Die Gasteromyceten Ungarns. Im Auftrage der = 28 
ischen Avotute der Wissenschaften. Autorisierte deutsche Uebersetzung, mit Unter- 
stittzung der Ungarischen Akademie der Wissenschaften. Folio 30X42. Pp- 279- 
pls. 31. Leipzig: Oswald Weigel. 1904. M 8o. 
