560 Tentamen Pteridograjihicr. 



Bibliographical Notices. 

 Tentamen Pferidographice, sen Genera Filicaceariim, preseiHim jnx- 

 ta venariim decursum et distribution em exposita. Auctore Ca- 

 ROLo BoR. Presl. Pragae, 1836, 8vo. pp. 290. 



Although published in 1836, this very interesting work has only 

 just come in our way, and we hasten to bring it under the notice of 

 our readers. As the title indicates, it is an attfmpt to determine 

 the genera of Filices, according to characters mainly derived from 

 the venation of the frond. 



"Dignitas vasorumseu nervorum venarumve," observes the author, 

 " in dignoscendis pUintis jam eo usque cognita est, quod ex contem- 

 platione illarum in foliis diversissimis plantse monocotyledoneae a di- 

 cotyledoneis facile discerni possunt. Dispositio nervorum vel ve- 

 narum in laminis foliaceis indicat compagem organorum, in quibus 

 obvenit, et cum dispositione vasorum in truncis et petiolis conten- 

 torum arctissimo coliseret vinculo. Hsec vasa in organis foliaceis 

 Filicacearum tamquam costse, venae et venulae palam liunt et ex 

 supra allatis causis maximum in describendis dividendisque Filici- 

 bus possident argumentum. Filicaceae compage venarum anatomi- 

 ca ab omnibus aliis vegetabilibus phanerogamis quam maxime dif- 

 ferunt ; hac ex causa venoe Filicacearum characterem essentialem 

 et validissimum ex interna slructura harum plantarum desumtum 

 praebent." 



The work is illustrated by twelve folding plates filled with a 

 great number of accurately drawn and beautifully executed figures, 

 exhibiting the venation and fructification of the genera. Perhaps 

 M. Presl has in some cases pushed his principle a little too far, 

 and formed genera of groups which might have been retained with 

 advantage as sections. The number of new genera amount nearly 

 to fifty ! There is no doubt that venation has been too much ne- 

 glected, and that henceforth it will be held of primary importance 

 in defining the genera of this large and beautiful family. 



Bryologia Europcea sen Genera Muscoriim Europa;ornm Monogra- 

 phice illustrata. Auctoribus Bruch et W. P. Schimper. Fasc. 

 I. cum. Tab. xi. Stuttgartise, 1837. 4to. 



This is the first part of an entirely new work upon the Mosses of 

 Europe, and, if completed according to the plan proposed, will form 

 a valuable addition to our botanical libraries. The generic and spe- 

 cific characters are in Latin ; the observations in French and Ger- 

 man. Every species is figured, and the well-executed plates abound 



