28 NOTICES OF BOOKS. 



Fernhurst. Mr. W. H. Beeby agrees in the naming, and tells me 

 that it grows in Surrey, near Haslemere, with other forms. The 

 species is not recorded for Vice-county 13 in ' Topographical Botany,' 

 ed. 2. — Edwaed S. Marshall. 



Crackling sound of Utricularia. — I write to ask an explanation 

 of the distinct crackling sound produced by Utricularia vulgaris when 

 it is disturbed. I had for some time supposed it was to be heard 

 only from fronds removed from the water and beginning to dry, 

 but I find the same phenomenon when the plants, — old ones filled 

 with sacs, still in the water, — are disturbed. On shaking such a 

 stem the rattle is distinct, the separate clicks being as loud as 

 those made by slowly winding a watch. After the first series of 

 clicks, the plant must rest some time before a second disturbance 

 will produce a second fusillade. — D. S. Kellicott (in Bot. Gazette, 

 Nov. 1887, p. 276), Buffalo, N. Y. 



NOTICES OF BOOKS. 



A Manual of Orchidaceous Plants cultivated under Glass in Great 



Britain. James Veitch & Sons, Eoyal Exotic Nursery, 

 Chelsea. Part II., Cattleya, Lcelia, &c. 



The second part of this work deals with Cattleya, Lcelia, and 

 some small closely-allied genera. The two former have been 

 excessively subdivided in horticultural works, and those botanists 

 who have tried to keep pace with the horticulturists in this matter, 

 and have almost given it up in disgust, will surely be surprised to 

 find in a horticultural work, that Cattleya has but 18 species (with 

 9 supposed natural hybrids in addition) ; for something like 50 or 

 60 have been fully described, and the garden names are yet more 

 numerous. Cattleya labiata absorbs something like 20 described 

 and so-called " species," the numerous forms being simply treated 

 as varieties and subvarieties, a method of treatment with which few 

 botanists will be disposed to quarrel. Besides a full statement 

 under each species of the habitat, five elaborate maps are devoted 

 to the geographical distribution of the different species of Cattleya, 

 Lcelia, and Odontoglossum. The key to the situation is admirably 

 supplied in the following extract: — " The position of some of the 

 names on the maps illustrating the geographical distribution of 

 Cattleya and Lcelia must be accepted as approximately correct only. 

 In such cases, the true habitat of the species has either been too 

 vaguely recorded, or it has been purposely withheld for trade 

 objects, to which the interests of science are, unfortunately, often 

 regarded as altogether subordinate." 



A word as to hybrids. In Cattleya 13 artificial hybrids, and 9 

 supposed natural ones are given, while in Lcelia the numbers are 

 15 and 7 respectively ; and it is curious to note that with all these 

 artificial hybrids they only appear to have solved the parentage of 

 one of the supposed natural ones. Of L. lilacina it is remarked : 

 " A supposed hybrid between Lalia crispa and L. Peninii, the same 

 two species from which Doniiny raised L. Pilcheri. The natural 



