HUMBOLDT CENTENAR-SCHRIFT 235 
Humboldt ee ee Beitrége zum Gediicht- 
niss der hundertjahrigen Wiederkehr des Antritts von ALEXANDER 
von Humpoupr’s Reise nach “Ameri. 8vo, pp. 54, 247, 82, 
with 2 i apes and 2 plates. Berlin: Kiihl, 1 1899. Price 
15 Mark 
Tuis joe Aggie con the hundreth anniver- 
ary of Humboldt’s dep e for America, is issued under the 
te ites of the Berlin ‘ Gonliea fir Erdkun ne It onmnTLegs 
three distinct and separately paged contribution 
The first, by Eduard Lentz, gives some Scan of the cireum- 
stances which led to the expedition, and the difficulties attending 
its arrangement. It is based on letters, hitherto unpublished, 
written by the explorer to his patron and friend, Baron de Forell. 
A number of the letters are published in full, and there is also a 
brief autobiography, which takes us up to the time just preceding 
reat expedition. Facsimile reproductions are given of the 
i and also of Humboldt’s letter of application for a 
passport. 
Spo 
The greater portion of the book is occupied by a valuable 
review, by Prof. Engler, of the development of plant-geography in 
the last hundred years, ‘‘ Die Entwickelung der oerwerss 5 oat 
ne 
ut 
Solander, which added not a little to our knowledge of the world- 
ora 
The bulk of Prof. Engler’s communication consists of a résumé 
of the most important ‘floristic literature,” in _ are contained 
statements relating to plant- cecgrap hie regions and formations. 
It occupies pp- 28-159, and, while scarcely an sa aahive biblio- 
graphy, yet gives a Secs, idea of sy work done, stating also the 
authors’ names, and in many cases the titles of the book or paper 
names of countries and provinces are given in th 
graphie,” the modern Ecology, , 
fewer pages. A by rd tae “Die Ps eckieaen = 
Pflanzen a ’ (pp. 195-237), reviews the palwo-botanica 
and phylogenetic inne hore i ig also an index of the authors 
menti aor” a 
e third paper is by Wilhelm Meinardus, and entitled ~ 
Entwickelung der Karten der chee rose 2 yon Alexan 
von Humboldt bis auf Heinrich Wilhelm Dov It fills thirty-two 
charts which ges w at a glance the 
Humboldt recognized the broad 
Principles; later work has consisted in elaborating the details, more 
especially in the equatorial zone. ey 
