August 5, 1910] 



SCIENCE 



L79 



forced to abandon the undertaking by pres- 

 sure of other work, turned over his manuscript 

 to Mr. Warren, who not only makes due ac- 

 knowledgment for important aid in preparing 

 the diagnoses and keys of the higher groups, 

 and for other assistance, but dedicates the 

 work to his helpful friend. The species and 

 subspecies are briefly but clearly described, 

 and their distribution is given in detail so far 

 as it is known, following which, and printed 

 in larger type, is a more or less extended 

 biography. In the case of the rodents and 

 other small mammals, the biographical matter 

 is generally given under the leading member 

 of the group (genus or species, as the case 

 may be), since among closely allied forms 

 there is no essential difl^erence in habits. 



The number of species and subspecies here 

 recorded for Colorado is about 150. In the 

 matter of nomenclature the authorities of the 

 biological survey have evidently been followed. 



In style of treatment and character of mat- 

 ter " The Mammals of Colorado " sets a good 

 standard for similar works, and its usefulness 

 will be appreciated far beyond the region with 

 which it deals. It satisfactorily reflects pres- 

 ent knowledge of the mammal fauna of 

 Colorado, and forms a good basis for the 

 addition of details at present unknown. 

 Furthermore, it contains a vast amount of 

 original information here published for the 

 :Srst time. J. A. Allen 



Researches on Fungi. By A. H. Reginald 



BuLLEE. London, Longmans, Green and Co. 



1909. 5 plates and 83 figures. Pp. xi -f- 



287. 



In this work the author gives the results of 

 tis intensive researches on the problems of 

 the dispersal of spores of the Hymenomycetes 

 and other related topics. The book is most 

 satisfying. It gives a mass of new facts well 

 arranged and carefully summarized, by chap- 

 ter and as a whole, together with full descrip- 

 tions accompanied by clear figures which show 

 the accuracy of the method and its painsta- 

 king character. The experiments are ingen- 

 ious and brought as far as possible to a con- 

 clusion. 



BuUer points out the admirable features of 

 the sporophores of the agarics, such as the 

 great increase in hymenial surface through 

 the gills, the immense number of spores thus 

 accommodated, together with the economy in 

 the introduction of the shorter gills. The ad- 

 hesive spores are spaced by the paraphyses 

 and each one has unobstructed access to the 

 open air. The stipe is advantageously placed, 

 commonly central, is often a hollow tube fol- 

 lowing the well-known engineering structure. 

 It is rigid through longitudinal tensions, 

 holding a cap generally set at a position of 

 stable equilibrium. The annulus serves as a 

 foil in preventing insects from climbing to 

 the unripe gills, yet does not interfere with 

 the spore currents. 



In certain chapters which might be said to 

 have a philosophical trend, the phyletic value 

 of the color of spores is considered; ane- 

 mophily is compared with coprophily and the 

 general problem of the arrangement of the 

 group is touched upon. In this last the au- 

 thor opposes the views of Masses, who holds 

 the Coprini to be primitive. 



To the increasing amount of work that is 

 being done on the tropic and morphogenic 

 responses of the mushrooms, the researches of 

 Buller make a distinct addition. His work 

 on Lentinus lepideus has been previously pub- 

 lished' but he reviews the main conclusions. 

 He continues his experiments with the mush- 

 room, with coprins and some polyporoids. 

 The mushroom shows no light reaction, geo- 

 tropism alone being effective. With Poly- 

 porus squamosus light is morphogenic but not 

 directive, since the pilei do not develop with- 

 out light, but their growth is not directed 

 toward it. Gravity plays a part in the final 

 adjustments. With coprins interesting pen- 

 dulum-like physiological swingings — a parallel 

 to the responses of phanerogam shoots — were 

 obtained by tilting. In the coprins, gener- 

 ally, heliotropic responses were found; this 

 seems to be a necessary consequence of the 

 peculiarly irregular substratum, enabling the 

 sporophores to avoid obstacles. This coupled 

 with the rhythm in development insures the 



'■ Annals of Botany, 1905, XIX., 427-438. 



