86 



The Zygomycetes are represented by Sporodinia grandis which 

 attacks the chestnut Boletus and also the Amanitas, and covers them 

 with a bright orange-yellow fuzz. 



Even the rusts and smuts are represented in this limited area. 

 Several plants of smooth crab-grass in the back yard were infected 

 with Ustilago Rabenhorstiana and some Panicum dichotomifiorum 

 in one of the flower beds harbored the head smut Sorosporiwn Syn- 

 therismae. A tiny creeping Euphorbia had its leaves heavily rusted 

 with Uromyces procniinens in 1940. A special search for plant patho- 

 gens could no doubt have uncovered numerous others, since the 

 weeds above mentioned indicate neither a well-kept garden nor a 

 perfectly groomed lawn. For a mycologist, however, it is ideal. 



Brooklyn College, 

 Brooklyn, N. Y. 



BOOK REVIEWS 



About Ourselves 



About Ourselves. By James G. Needham. The Jaques Cattell Press, 

 1941. Pp. XII + 276. $3.00. 



It seems that a book so thoroughly publicized and by so popular 

 an author needs very little in the way of a review, especially when 

 it comes from a botanist with non-too-critical zoological leaning. 

 However, to those of us of the Torrey Botanical Club whose daily 

 task it is to present the biological aspects of human endeavors to 

 the young, a few words about the impressions made by this book 

 and the reasons why this book has such meaning for them, should 

 be of some interest. 



The title "About Ourselves" may have many implications, but 

 since it has been written by a zoologist, one must naturally infer 

 that its discussions treat of the human being. Not only is this 

 true, but man's relation to other animals and other human beings 

 are very much stressed. The book is accordingly divided into two 

 parts. The first deals with man in his biological aspect ; the second 

 deals with society in its biological aspects. The first part is replete 

 with topics which should appeal to the teacher in general and the 

 teacher of biology in particular. The language is not technical and 



