Bihliographical Notice. 271 



not continuous ; I am unable, therefore, to accept X. yc'y/a'- 

 catior as a good species. 



The present opportunity may be taken of deprecating tlie 

 multiplication by splitting up of species except on the most 

 valid grounds. A description of a species is not a description 

 of a specimen only, and the practice of taking small and 

 insignificant differences in a series for the erecting of new 

 species only retards, instead of advancing, our knowledge. 

 In the Scolytidse this custom has, perhaps, been carried 

 furthest in the genera Hypothenemus and Stephanoderes^ but 

 in all the genera the diagnostic value of colour, number and 

 size of prothonicic tubercles, and in some genera the number 

 of funicular joints, as well as the partial or complete division 

 of the eye etc., depend on the examination of the longest 

 series obtainable ; and the giving of specific value to single 

 and often immature specimens which do not exhibit some 

 striking peculiarities, is equally to be deplored. 



The foregoing remarks have no reference to those cases 

 where the forest expert is able to prove dissimilarity in life- 

 history etc., as in such cases apparently trivial differences 

 may become of the first importance. 



BIBLIOGliAPHICAL NOTICE. 



Straslmrgep's Text-hoolc of Botany^ re-iuritten hij Br. Hans Fitting, 

 Dr. Ludwiy Jost, Dr. Heinrich Sclienck, and Dr. George Karsten. 

 Fifth English Edition, revised from the Fourteenth German 

 Edition by W. H. LaxVq. Macmillan and Co : London, 1921. 

 31*. Qd, 



Since the last English edition of this famous text-book Professor 

 Strasburger has died. The original authors of the text-book, as it 

 appeared in lb91, were Professor Strasburger, Professor JNoU, Pro- 

 lessor Schenck, and Schimper. The new English edition contains 

 important new sections on Morphology, Physiology, and Spermato- 

 phyta, contributed by Fitting, Jost, and Karsten, respectively ; and 

 these Professors, together with Professor Schenck, who contributes 

 the chapters on Thallo[)hyta, Bryophyta, and Pteridophyta, are 

 responsible for this edition, which in the main follows the lines 

 of the original text-book. The addition of the important new 

 material by the authorities already mentioned makes the book of 

 quite exceptional value as a text-book, and it will be a great advan- 

 tage to students to have before them the brief account of recent 

 literature and the exhaustive bibliography which is given by each 

 of the four subeditors. 



