394 Scientific Intelligence. 



species. Among the more interesting of the plants in Mrs. Owen's 

 list are the following, which occur very sparingly, viz: Galhma 

 vulgaris, Erica cinerea, and Erica tetralix. The latter grows 

 among imported pines ; but, of the other heaths, the author says, 

 "there is nothing in the surroundings, the usual and characteris- 

 tic vegetation of that part of the island, to indicate accidental 

 introduction." But there can be, we think, no reasonable doubt 

 that these heaths are not native. Under certain circumstances 

 heaths, especially Calluna, can in a short time, make themselves 

 much at home in the New England States. With the sterile soil 

 and humid air of the island, it would seem as if they could estab- 

 lish themselves very firmly. But as it is, they have there only a 

 precarious foothold, and require that heed should be paid to the 

 pathetic appeal which Mrs. Owen makes in their behalf. Botan- 

 ists who go in search of the island rarities which Mrs. Owen enum- 

 erates, should aid in defending them from the extinction which 

 now threatens. g. l. g. 



4. Catalogue of the Flora of Vermont; by George H. Per- 

 kins, Ph.D., Professor of Natural History in the University of 

 Vermont (from the Tenth Report of State Board of Agriculture), 

 pp. 74. Burlington, 1888. — This list is designed to replace an 

 earlier one by the same author, published in 1882. It has been 

 prepared with great care and is a valuable addition to our cata- 

 logues of American plants. Certain parts of Vermont have long 

 been famous as botanical collecting ground, especially Willoughby 

 and Smuggler's Notch. Professor Perkins says rightly, that 

 other portions still wait for the botanist who shall thoroughly 

 explore them. The remarks in the introduction to the list deal 

 to some extent with the rapid changes which are now going on 

 in the vegetation of the State, and the picture which the author 

 draws of the effects of " improvements " is discouraging. The 

 introduction of western and other plants in grass seed is said to 

 have changed the aspect of many acres of meadow-land. " Rud- 

 beckias and Hieraciums have not only appeared, but so increased 

 as when in bloom to change the appearance of the fields in which 

 they have become located." G. l. g. 



5. Plants of Rhode Island ; by J. H. Bennett, Providence, 

 1888, pp. 128. — Mr. Olney's Catalogue of Rhode Island Plants 

 was published more than forty years ago, and it appeared to the 

 members of the Franklin Society high time to revise the list. 

 The present catalogue is said by its author to contain three times 

 as many species as the first enumeration, and yet contains, " it is 

 believed, but little more than the half of those species which grow 

 without cultivation within our borders." The latter remark must 

 be taken to apply to the Cryptogamous species, which occupy 

 rather more than half the whole number of pages of the list, and 

 fifty-seven per cent of the total number of species enumerated. 

 Mr. Bennett has been fortunate in securing the services of many 

 collaborators, who have aided in making the list of Cryptogams 

 considerably fuller than that given in any of the local catalogues 



