78 Scientific Intelligence. 
Til. Borany. 
1. Die natiirlichen Pflanzenfamilien.—Recent numbers of this 
serial work bear the single name of Professor Engler, of Berlin. 
After the loss of Eichler, its founder, and of Prantl, a co-editor, 
the entire conduct of editing was entrusted to Professor Engler. 
He has not introduced any new elements into the work, and the 
collaborators pursue their specialties on the same lines as at first. 
The present installments contain Hippocastanacee, by F. Pax; 
Sapindacee, by L. Rapikorer; Sabiacee, by O. Warsure; 
Tamaicacee, by F. Nieprenzu; Cistacee, by K. Reicuz; 
Bixacece, Winteranacece, (Canellacee,) by O. Warpure; Koe- 
berliniacee, by A. EneteR; Violacew, by K. Rzicun and P. 
TavuBERT. From this can be seen the wide range of contributions, 
and some idea can be gained from this of the immense difficulty 
of editorial supervision, in keeping everything within due limits 
of space and in proper proportion. Aside from the annoyance of 
having the installments appear in different parts of the field, a 
fact inseparable from the mode of preparation, the work has pro- 
eressed to the satisfaction of subscribers. The promises of the 
publishers have been more than kept, especially as regards excel- 
lence and copiousness of the engravings and the high order of 
typographical execution. The English translation will be re- 
ceived with a hearty welcome. G. L. G 
2. Hamiliar Flowers of Field and Garden, by F. ScHuyLER 
Matuews. New York, 1895. (D. Appleton & Co.)—The increas- 
ing number of popular works on various subjects in Natural History 
may be taken as an expression of an increasing interest in some 
phases of Zoology and Botany. Even the wretched text and 
misleading illustrations of a botanical work published during the 
past year, as a premium fora syndicate of newspapers, may be 
perhaps interpreted as an indication of a desire on the part of the 
public to gain information in regard to plants. Happily some of 
the recent popular works on Botany are of an entirely different 
character, being generally trustworthy and in good taste, 
although they may be rather unsatisfying on account of the 
limited scope. Among such useful works may be mentioned Mrs, 
Dana’s work, in which color is made to serve as an aid to the 
beginner in studying plants, and also the book which we have 
placed at the head of this notice. Mr. Mathews is an artist and 
has studied the plants around him chiefly from the point of view 
of an intelligent lover of form and color. His sketches, about 
two hundred, are spirited and faithful. The descriptions are 
sufficiently detailed to be helpful to one who is just entering 
on the study of flowers, and no serious mistakes are observable in 
any part of the book. The little treatise is attractively printed 
and is bound in flexible covers, of a size fitting it for the pocket. 
G L. G 
