December 1, 1905.] 



SCIENCE. 



701 



judiciously selected, well printed, and give one 

 the impression of illustrating the text rather 

 than of adorning the book. This is not the 

 case with all recent books, in some of which 

 one suspects that pretty pictures have been 

 used to add to the attractiveness of the pages, 

 with only remote reference to the text. 



We are told in the preface that the chief 

 object of this book is ' to disseminate knowl- 

 edge of the destructive parasites of the useful 

 plants of Minnesota, to assist all concerned 

 in the cultivation of plants, to a more intel- 

 ligent and thorough vmderstanding of the 

 habits of these parasites, and to point out es- 

 tablished methods of combating such diseases.' 

 In carrying out this plan, the author gives 

 about one half of the book to a general dis- 

 cussion of the nutrition, reproduction, life 

 methods, and parasitism of the fungi, their 

 role in plant diseases, their kinds systemat- 

 ically considered, the prevention of diseases, 

 fungicides, spraying, etc. This is followed 

 by a special discussion of diseases of timber 

 and shade trees, timber rots, diseases of field 

 and forage crops, garden crops, orchards and 

 vineyards, green house and ornamental plants 

 and wild plants. In connection with each 

 disease, there are brief but clear suggestions 

 as to preventive or remedial treatment. The 

 volume must at once be in great demand in 

 Minnesota, and, without doubt, the small edi- 

 tion of 2,500 copies will soon be exhausted. 

 It is so valuable a book that it is certain to be 

 in demand wherever there are students of 

 plant diseases, and to meet this demand it 

 should be placed on sale. 



Charles E. Bessey. 

 The University of Nebraska. 



Sea-shore Life. The Invertehrates of the 

 New YorTc Coast. By Alfred G. Mayer. 

 New York Aquarium Series, No. I. Pub- 

 lished by the New York Zoological Society. 

 1905. 



Dr. Mayer has succeeded in the difficult 

 task of presenting in a readable and poptilar 

 form a good deal of information regarding 

 the habits and distribution of the lower marine 

 animals of the. coast of New York and of Long 

 Island. A simple description of the appear- 



ance and structure of most of the forms is 

 given that will suffice for identification. Es- 

 pecially noteworthy are the large number of 

 new illustrations; most of them photographs 

 of the living animals. While these photo- 

 graphs are not all of equal merit, the majority 

 of them are excellent and valuable. 



The book of some 200 pages is not intended 

 as a guide to the New York Aquarium, but it 

 is anticipated that many visitors whose inter- 

 est has been aroused by the fine exhibit at 

 the aquarium will be glad to learn more about 

 the marine fauna of our coast; and a book of 

 this kind will meet such a need. At present, 

 it is true that the animals in the aquarium 

 are largely fishes and a few other vertebrates, 

 bvit with the completion of the new salt water 

 system that is now being introduced it will be 

 possible to keep alive many of the more deli- 

 cate invertebrate forms. When this change 

 occurs the first volume of the New York 

 Nature Series will form a useful compendium 

 to the visitor who desires to study the ani- 

 mals in the aquarium as well as to see them. 



Two features of Dr. Mayer's book seem to 

 us to be especially noteworthy. In the intro- 

 ductory statement the theory of evolution is 

 presented in a modest and undogmatic spirit, 

 that will recommend itself to most readers. 

 In the second place many references to more 

 special works are scattered through the text, 

 so that the tyro will be able to follow up any 

 special subject that may excite his interest. 



The book is clearly printed and presents a 

 very attractive appearance. It ought to prove 

 u.seful as well as attractive. 



T. H. Morgan. 



SOCIETIES AND ACADEMIES. 



THE AMERICAN MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY. 



The one hundred and twenty-fifth regular 

 meeting of the American Mathematical So- 

 ciety was held at Columbia University, on Sat- 

 urday, October 28. The simultaneous meeting 

 of the American Physical Society afforded an 

 agreeable opportunity for the renewal of cor- 

 dial relations among the members of the two 

 organizations. The attendance at the morning 

 and afternoon sessions of the Mathematical So- 



