1922] CURRENT LITERATURE II5 
The general discussion of each subclass is followed by a key to its orders, 
‘and of each order by a key to its families. These keys are clear and simple, 
and add greatly to the value of the book. After each special topic, or discussion 
of a family, a bibliography is appended, in which the selection of the titles has 
been dictated by matured judgment. The illustrations are numerous and 
appropriate. Many of them are crudely drawn, which detracts greatly from 
the appearance of the book, but they are always clear and accurate. Muc 
consideration is given to the cytological aspect, which in view of the research 
interests of the author is not surprising. The frequency with which she 
emphasizes the points in need of further cytological investigation should prove 
stimulating to workers in this fie 
he implication on page 4 » Chat we must accept two nuclear fusions as the 
normal situation in all ounede will be regarded by many mycologists 
as premature. The entire subject must be carefully reinvestigated in the light 
of recent parallel studies on the Basidiomycetes before this can be regarded 
as definitely established. In this connection, the reference to clamp connections 
food (p. 1), and as merely vegetative phenomena (p ; ave to be 
revised. Again, the statement that “in Puccinia, Phragmidium, and other 
Uredinales . . . . the basidia are developed in chains” seems to stress unduly 
the seinlosiead: conception of the basidium, just as the thought of each cell 
of the promycelium as a one-spored basidium, as held by other botanists, seems 
to place undue emphasis on morphological detail. Lacking more convincing 
evidence than has yet been presented, it would seem better to retain the inter- 
mediate and generally accepted view that the teleutospore cell is not a basidium, 
but is the cell that gives rise to one, either externally, as a promycelium, or 
internally. In fact, the author is not consistent in her treatment, and seems to 
recognize the latter view on the same pages on which she gives different inter- 
pretations. 
The proofreading has been carefully done and typographical errors are 
few. Fig. 27e is a transverse, not a longitudinal section, and a few words, 
mainly proper names, are misspelled, all of very minor importance. The 
author is to be congratulated on the effective presentation of a mass of informa- 
tion which has heretofore Rech: scattered and largely morenirimesies to the majority 
of the workers in this field. an collating 
this work and in presenting it so clearly and concisely. The book is a necessity 
for the reference shelf of every laboratory where mycology is taught.—G. W. 
Martin. 
Lichens 
_ Miss Annte L. Suiru,? of the British Museum, is the author of a notable 
work on lichens, in which are considered the history of lichenology, the morphol- 
?Smiru, ANNIE L., Lichens. 8vo. pp. xxviit+464. figs. 165. Cambridge Uni- 
versity Press, England. 1921. 
