356 : THE JOURNAL OF BOTANY 
' The number of woods dealt with is 247; a long list of names 
not admitted occur to us at the moment of writing; but we note 
that Mr. Stone says in his Preface that ‘‘some of the sbicaial spe- 
cimens did not arrive in time to be incorporated in the list of species 
described, but they will be dealt with subsequently, and will form 
pages of a series of which the present book is the first instalment.” 
e are glad to see this announcement; if the whole series of 
onde that are included in the Official Guides to the Kew Museums, 
especialy those in the Timber Museum, are treated in the same way 
s the 247 dealt with in the present volume, Mr. Stone will have 
mpiled a monumental work which will be indispensable for 
tener and wood-workers for many years to come, for we must 
remember that Mr. Stone’s aim is to introduce only such woods as 
he is able to personally investigate. 
Bearing in mind oe difficulties which surround the production 
of such a work, it would be ungenerous to refer to a few i a 
which will no doubt be detee ted by the author, and set right in a 
future edition. e may, however, draw attention to the difficulty 
in finding the consecutive plates after Plate viii., Plate xiv. being 
nse between it and Plate ix., which is followe we x. to xiii. in 
proper sequence, when another break oP with xv. vi 
and after this in proper order. ine 49: ns a ewe 
The — of the Collections contained i. + the Natural History Depart- 
vents of the British Museum. Vol. I. London: Longmans, &c. 
1904, 8vo, pp. xvii, 442. Price 15s. 
Tis volume, printed by order of the Trustees of the British 
Museum, contains severally the histories of the Libraries and of 
Minerals. The article on the Libraries is not signed, but in the 
aay to the volume it is stated, on the authority of the Director, 
Mr. E. Ray bona gal that it was written by the Librarian, Mr. 
. B. Woo ; Mr. Britten rendered valuable assistance in th 
matter of ‘the Toute drawings. A general alphabetical Authors’ 
Catalogue of the whole Library, exclusive of minor = ined is in 
progress, the first volume of which was issued in Augu 03. 
According to a rough estimate (p. 22), based on the Parone 
returns, there were in the Natural History Museum at the end of the 
year 1900, without taking count of continuations, 75,202 volumes 
and 5780 maps; * the present time there are probably at least 80,000 
volumes and 7500 map 
The section on the pies of Pome (pp. 79-193) is signed 
by the Keeper, Mr. George aod who (p.84) states that “advantage 
has been taken of Mr, Britten’s unique knowledge of the history of 
the botanical Poranaet and that the latter, ‘‘with Mr. Gepp’s 
help, completed the ork.” This statement is curiously expressed 
ona  aifinlt © appresiate—possbl the word ‘‘completed’’ is used 
mposed’’; it may, however, be expected that the ex- 
eon will be oe aited or expanded in a later issue, and made 
