888 THE JOURNAL OF BOTANY 
the V ‘agenesis are, however, not included in this group, but are 
left in the —— Nor does Prof. West agree with the most 
recen ~ views as to the direct origin of the CE dogoniacee from a 
Flagellate tele The inclusion of the Glaucocystacee in the 
Myxophycee is also open to criticism; apart from the blue-green 
colour, their affinities seem to be very decidedly with the Proto- 
coccoidea, After all, however, little can be said for or against these 
debatable points, which a largely of a hypothetical nature 
The main body of the book, which is provided with excellent 
illustrations in sien pen original, contains a careful description 
of or and genera in large type, the more important species 0 
each ae. ase with frequent remarks on their distribution, 
being added in small type; in a few cases a critical synopsis of al 
the British abort of a genus is given. It is questionable as to 
whether it is advisable to begin the ‘systematic portion with such a 
highly differentiated form as Gdogonium ; it would seem nee to 
start with a primitive series like that of the pelea, and t 
work up from them to the higher types. Prof. West introduces 
some older names to replace present ones a for Stigeo- 
clonium, Tribonema oF Conferra, Ankistrodesmus for Rhaphidium, 
Choaspis for Sirogonium), which are regarded as having "aie fully 
established before the publication of the newer names. A valuable 
feature of the book is the key to the genera of each family. 
he present volume is bound to appeal strongly to all interested 
in this field of botany, and to all such the remarks made by Prof. 
West in his preface are addressed, riz. the importance of a sound 
knowledge of the geographical aeleiba taxi of the lowly types of 
Cryptogams, which must throw much light on the land-connections 
of previous periods. F. E. Frirscu. 
Morphologie und iota der Algen. Von Dr. Frreprich OLTMANNs. 
Ba ieller Teil. Pp. vi, 703; 467 figs. Jena, 1904. 
Price 20 Sbarks: 
SS) Falkenberg here his Algen im Re Sinne in 
Schenk’s Handbuch, 1882, no book has till now appeared which 
embraces the recent resetcles on the eee and biology of 
lge. Such a book has been much needed, and is now offered 
to us by Prof essor Oltmanns penis the above title. While Engler 
the sn at stad point: the present work treats it from the point 
of view of general morphology and biology. When completed it 
will pent of two volumes; the first, the subject of this review, 
treats of the separate families ; the sabia and smaller one will 
deal with general considera tions. As regards the plan of the first 
volume, the author explains in his preface that he has omitted the 
Gi yanophycea, since he holds that their affinities lie rather with the 
Bacteria, and that they can only be properly understood when con- 
sidered in binijeniettion with such genera as Cladvthrix, Beggiatoa, 
&e. On the other hand, we find the Charales included, as well as 
the coloured Flagellate—the latter on account of their phylogenetic 
connection with the Alge. 
