CURRENT LITERATURE. 
BOOK REVIEWS. 
The trees of North America 
PROFESSOR SARGENT’ has brought into a convenient volume the information 
concerning the trees of North America that is much more elaborated in his Silva. 
The sequence is that of ENGLER and Pranri’s Die natiirlichen Pilanzenfamilien. 
Especial attention has been given to the construction of simple analytical keys, 
so that a species may be determined with the minimum of trouble. For example, 
the key to the families is based on the arrangement and character of the leaves; 
and in the same way genera and species are reached by the important and easily 
discovered contrasting characters. Each of the 630 or more species is further 
made clear by the admirable illustrations of Mr. C. E. Faxon, showing the leaves, 
flowers, and fruits. There is no reason why this manual should not become at 
once extensively used by all those interested in trees, a constituency that extends 
far beyond the boundary of professional botanists.—J. M. C. 
Organic evolution 
A RECENT BOOK by Professor METCALF? presents in a clear and simple style 
the fundamental principles of organic evolution in a form very well adapted to 
the needs of the general reader and to those who wish an outline of the theory of 
arwinism, The standpoint is clearly that of the Neo-Darwinist, and the main 
topics the familiar ones of adherents of this school. Perhaps the most striking 
feature of the book is the wealth of clear and very well selected illustrations, a 
large proportion of which are presented for the first time in a general text of this 
character. These give to the work a character quite its own, and in themselves 
Justify a book which in its general outlines follows very closely the subject-matter 
and method of presentation in several popular accounts of evolution, including 
those of WaLLace and RomANEs. The subject-matter is chiefly zoological, and 
the book would hardly claim an extensive treatment of the principles of plant 
evolution.—B. M. Davis 
MINOR NOTICES. 
THE REPORT for 1904 of the Chief of the Bureau of Plant Industry, Dr. 
GaLLoway, is commended to the perusal of all botanists that they keep in touch 
With the botanical work in progress under this Bureau of the Department of 
S 
of Mexico). Imp. 8vo. pp. xxiii +826. figs. 640. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin and 
Company, 1905. $6.00, 
MErcacr, M. M., Anoutline of the theory of organic evolution. Imp. 8vo. pp. 
204. pls. rer, figs. 46. New York: The Macmillan Co. 1904. 
1905] 301 
