ror] CURRENT LITERATURE 159 
promptly as at first expected, it would have been sadly out of date by this 
time. So large an addition has been made to our knowledge of fossil plants, 
that now we are to have three volumes of this work, instead of two, and the 
third volume, promised to appear “with as little delay as possible,” is to 
contain the seed plants, and also a much-needed discussion of the geographical 
distribution of plants at different stages in the history of the earth. 
The present volume contains the pteridophytes, with the exception of 
Equisetales and the major part of Sphenophyllales, which were treated in the 
first volume. As has been said often in this journal, the material of paleo- 
botany must be traversed critically by morphologically trained paleobotanists, 
so that morphologists may be able to base their conclusions upon reasonably 
assured data. Even yet, most paleobotanists are stratigraphers, their chief 
concern being to be able to recognize a given horizon by a given form, what- 
ever its relationships may be. Of course, such paleobotanists are geologists 
rather than botanists. 
EWARD has now done this service for botanists in the very critical series 
of fossil pteridophytes, and we are able to put together two or three com- 
petent and independent judgments, feeling well assured if we find agreement, 
and feeling cautious if we find disagreement. It is impossible to discuss the 
details of such a book, for it is more a manual than a reading text. It will 
be sufficient to indicate the titles of the 16 chapters. 
XII, Sphenophyllales (continued) (16 pp.); XIII, Psilotales (13 = 
XIV, Lycopediales (62 pp.); XV, Aoooteaset Lycopodiales (104 pp.); XVI 
Sipillaria (31 pp.); XVIT Stigmaria (21 pp.); XVIII, Bothrodendreae fs 
pp.); XIX, Seed-bearing plants closely allied to members of the Lycopodiales 
(9 pp.); XX, Filicales (44 pp.); XXI, Fossil ferns (71 pp.); XXII, Marat- 
tiales (fossil) (17 pp.); XXIII, Psaronieae (15 pp.); XXIV, Ophioglossales 
(fossil) (5 pp.); XXV, Coenopterideae (91 pp.); XX VI, Hydropterideae and 
Sagenopteris (11 pp.); XXVII, Genera of Pteridosperms, ferns, and plantae 
incertae sedis (97 pp.). 
These titles do not indicate any coordination, but perhaps mage represent 
the legitimate state of mind in the presence of the material._—J. M. C. 
MINOR NOTICES 
New Zealand plants.—New Zealand is fortunate in having as its leading 
botanist one who has not only carefully studied the problems of plant life in 
a comparatively new region, but has now given to the general public a most 
interesting volume® on the vegetation of these islands. Beginning with a 
simple synopsis of the history of botanical explorations in New Zealand, from 
the work of Dr. Joun Forster in 1773 to the present day, Dr. CocKAYNE 
proceeds to discuss the most notable features of a vegetation ranging from a 
§ Cockayne, L., New Zealand ee and their story. 8vo. vii+190. figs. 71. 
T910,. Wellington: Jobe Mackay, Government Printer. 
