530 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [December 



in the section allotted to diseases of man and animals the impression is produced 

 in section J32 that the use of mercuric chloride is too lavishly recommended. 

 It has its place, but would it not be better to advocate the sterilization of such 

 cultures as those of anthrax and tuberculosis by means of the autoclave? 

 Then, too, it would have been well to have inserted some special admonitory 

 warnings in introducing the student to the study of anthrax and tuberculosis. 



Attention might be directed to an error in the description of carrying out 

 the technic of Welch's capsule stain (p. 36) ; water in no instance ought to 

 be allowed to come in contact with the film, all washing should be done with 

 0.85 per cent sodium chloride solution. In exercise no. 27, the presentation 

 of the formula of Elsner's potato gelatine medium would appear to be mis- 

 leading, inasmuch as this medium is not one suitable for the growth of bacteria 

 in general; in fact, the reverse is true, as Elsner introduced it in 1896 for the 

 purpose of providing a selective medium for the typhoid bacillus and prevent- 

 ing the growth of other bacteria associated with it in such materials as feces, 

 urine, water, etc. The reaction as given is evidently a misprint for "plus 

 o. 25." An unfortunate error is given prominence in Appendix E, wherein it 

 is stated in paragraphs five and six that the term "plus(+)i.o is equivalent 

 to 1.0 cc. of normal hydrochloric acid per liter" \ on the contrary, it should 

 read i.occ. per cent (see Standard methods of water analysis, 2d ed., i9 I2 > 

 p. 126). 



Apart from the foregoing criticisms, and judged upon its merits, the manual 

 is admirably adapted, not alone for students of agriculture and of the technical 

 sciences, but for students of any institution where bacteriology is worthily 

 taught in its broader and more fundamental aspects. The book is of a handy 

 size, well printed, attractively bound, and adequately illustrated. — N. MacL. 



Harris. 



The marine algae of Iceland 



Warmix 



ing completed in satisfactory form the botanical investigation of the Faeroes, 

 have turned attention to Iceland, as the Danish dependency now most in 

 need of study. The first paper of the Iceland series is the work of Dr. Helgi 

 Jonsson 2 of Reykjavik, Iceland, and it gives an elaborate account of the 

 marine algae which are so richly represented on the coast of that far northern 

 island. There are 200 species listed, of which 76 are reds, 67 browns, and 51 

 greens. In the chapter on life-conditions, the subjects treated are the nature 

 of the coast; the movements, temperature, and salinity of the water; atmos- 

 pheric temperature and humidity; precipitation; wind; and light. As usual 

 elsewhere, the algae are best developed on rocky coasts. The practical upper 

 limit of algae is reached at the flood level of neap tides. 



Kolderup, L., and Warming. E., The botany of Iceland. I. 



marine 



J. Frimodt. London: John Wheldon & Co. 1912. 



186. figs. 7. Copenhagen: 



