December 8, 1893 



;CIENCE. 



321 



two parts — Part. I. is rlesnriptive and deals in ful] with the 

 life-history of ferns; Part II. deals with methods of study. 

 The descriptive portion of the work is arranged in seven 

 chapters, six chapters being devoted to the Leptosporan- 

 giate homosporous Filicinese, and one chapter to the 

 Ophioglossete The chapters on the ferns trace in detail 

 the development, morphology and anatomy of the gameto- 

 phytic and sporophytic phases. The text is in no sense a 

 compilation, but is written after a thoroughgoing and 

 serious investigation by the author, using the Collodion 

 Method as a means of bringing the material under contri- 

 bution, so that in a very large measure it is written from 

 nature revealed by original preparations. One unique 

 feature of the work is the result of a critical examination 

 by the author of the structure of the sjjorangium in the 

 different orders of ferns and the dispersion of the spores. 

 In the light of this study it is clearly shown that the 

 customary statements regarding the extent of the annulus 

 must be modified. The 1(53 illustrations are all original 

 from camera lucida sketches, accomjianied by a magnified 

 micrometer scale, so that the reader can at once compute 

 the magnification. All of the illustrations of sections are 

 from objects prepared by the Collodion Method, and sev- 

 eral of them from preparations made by students of the 

 author during their ordinary laboratory work. The old 

 method of free-hand sectioning rendered it an extremely 

 difficult task even for an expert to make satisfactory sec- 

 tions of the delicate prothalline tissue. The profuse illus- 

 trations in this book, representing, as they do, the entire 

 range of development, the chief features of anatomy and a 

 comprehensive treatment of the structure of the sporangia 

 of the different orders, are evidence of the comparative 

 ease with which students may now, by this method, over- 

 come obstacles which heretofore have stood in the way. 

 From the intermediate position which ferns occupy in 



the plant kingdom their life-history presents a general- 

 ized view of the chief phenomena of plant life, and they 

 are therefore admirably suited for studies of the biologi- 

 cal aspect of botany, and form a suitable introduction to 

 this phase of botanical instruction. The book is suited to 

 assist students in laboratory classes in successfully tracing 

 out the more difficult phases in the development of fern 

 organs. The descriptive part affords a convenient means 

 of reference at any stej) of the work, while the practical 

 part deals with methods, preparation of material and in- 

 structions for prosecuting the various phases of the 

 investigation, and is to be used as a- laboratory guide. By 

 its use, as first tested by the author in his own classes, the 

 students are enabled to make with precision and accuracy 

 permanent microscopic preparations of all the stages of 

 development. Especial success has been had in adapting 

 the collodion method to the handling of the delicate 

 prothalline tissue, sexual organs and embryo, it being 

 better suited to such delicate tissue than the paraflln 

 method, and the preparation of material can be carried 

 through in less time and with far less trouble. Permanent 

 microscopic sections thus made serve the purpose of study, 

 for future reference, and, if desired, for class illustration. 

 The descriptive part occupies such a prominent part of 

 the book that it will commend itself also to those who do 

 not contemplate the practical study, but desire, in compact 

 form, a much fuller account of fern history than can be 

 obtained in ordinary text-books. 



— Charles Scribner's Sons will publish a sumptu- 

 ous art-work, entitled "Eembrandt: his life, his work and 

 his time,' by Emile Michel. Among their other books, 

 nearly ready, are a new book by Dr. Henry M. Field, en- 

 titled "The Barbary Coast,'" a description of a leisurely 

 journey to many interesting points in Algiers, Tunis and 

 Tripoli. 



Horsford's Acid Phosphate 



Is the most effective and agreeable 

 remedy in existence for preventing 

 indigestion, and relieving those dis 

 eases arising from a disordered 

 stomach. 



Dr. "W. "W. Gardner, Spring 



field, Mass., says, "I value it as an excel- 

 lent preventative of indigestion, and e 

 pleasant acidulated drink when proper 

 ly diluted with water, and sweetened." 



Descriptive pamphlet free on application to 



RuMFORD Chemical Works, Providence, R. I 



Beware of Substitutes and Imitations. 



For sale by all Druggists. 



[Free of charge to all, if of satisfactory character. 

 Address N. D. C. Hodges, 874 Broadway, New 

 York] 



[ desirous of obtaining the following back num - 

 bers of Thr, Auk : One copy each of Oct., 18S5; July, 



; January, 1887; July, 1887; April and July, iSui; 



two copies each of the following: January, i836; 

 Oct. 1886; Oct, 1887; July, t888; January, 1889; Jan- 

 uary, 1890- My own contributions m them only are 

 required; otherwise the copies need not be perfect. 

 I have in exchange for them two vols, (zoology) 

 iVIex. Bound'y Surveys (col. plates) or complete set 

 of English reprints of "Osteology of Arctic Water- 

 Birds, etc." (o parts, 24 lith. plates); or other rare 

 scientific reprints of any subject required. Ad- 

 dress Dr. Shufcldt, Takoma, D. C. 



For Sale.— The first eleven volumes of Crooke's 

 Quarterly Journal of Science, 7 vols, ist series, 4 

 vols, and series, beautifully bound, half morocco, 

 as good as new, for §30. John J. Jarmey, 93 India- 

 nola Place, Columbus, Ohio. 



For Sale. — A very fine telescope, length extended, 

 twenty-five inches, closed, seven inches. Power 

 twenty-five times. Good as new. Cost $25.00. 

 Will sell for the best cash offer. B. S. Bowdish, 

 Box 165, Phelps, N. Y. 



For Sale or Exchange for last editions of Standard 

 Works on Vegetable Anatomy or Physiology: 

 Practical Zoology, Marshall & Hurst; Elements of 

 Embryology, Foster & Balfour; Zoology, Macalis- 

 ter;Guide to the Study of Insects, Packard; Geolog- 

 ical Studies and bhall We Teach Geology, Winchell. 

 Also have duplicates of Experiment Station pub- 

 lications which would like to exchange for any n' t 

 in my file. L. R. Jones, Burlington, Vt. 



For exchange.— Skins of Aegialites nivosa, Ereu' 

 netes occidentalis, Aunnodramus Arldingi. A 

 restrains, Chamara tasciata henshawi, etc., foi 

 native or foreign skins with full data. Send lists, 

 A. W. Anthony, 2042 Albatross St., San Diego, Call- i^ocheste/'y.'Y 



Wants. 



WANTED.— Books or information on the micro- 

 scopical determination of blood and hair. Also 

 reports of cases where hair has played an import- 

 ant part in the identification of an individual. Ad- 

 ' " " , XT ^. . p^YQ . Marshall- 



A GEOLOGIST thoroughly conversant with the 

 '^ geology ot the Southern States desires an en- 

 gagement. Has complete knowledge of the eco- 

 nomic geology of Iron, Coal, Lignite, as well as 

 Clay and Kaolin. Five years' experience with 

 Geological Surveys. Address K., 509 West Sixth 

 Street, Austin, Texas. 



WANTED.— Tuckerman's Geneva Lichenum and 

 Carpenter on the Microscope, Wiley's In- 

 troduction to the Study of Lichens. State price 

 and other particulars. Richard Lees, Brampton, 

 Ont. 



WANTED.— Icones Muscorum by W. D. SuUi- 

 vant, with or without Supplement, but both 

 preferred. Address, stating price and condition 

 of books, Dr. G. N . Best, Rosemont, N. J. 



WANTED.— A copy of Mascart & Joubert's Les- 

 sons in Electricity and Magnetism, Vol. I. Ad- 

 dress R. W. Clawson, Vanderbilt University, Nash- 

 ville, Tennessee. 



pHEMIST.— Graduate of a polytechnical school, 

 ^-^ and studied photographic chemistry in Ger- 

 many and Austria. Situation teaching or in ana- 

 l>'tical or experimental laboratory. M. B. Punnett, 



