168 Scientific Intelligence. 



which he defends as the theory of the " strobilus," or " strobi- 

 loid " theory. He admits that the theory is hardly capable of 

 direct proof and claims no originality for certain of the views 

 advanced, but the evidence which he presents is clear and usually 

 convincing. The strobiloid theory, in which the axis is the part 

 originally dominant, is in marked contrast to certain theories 

 proposed by earlier writers, in which the leaf either precedes the 

 axis or is simultaneous with it in its appearance. a. w. e. 



2. Linnaeus; by Dr. Valckenler Suringar; pp. 106. S. 

 Gravenhage, 1908 (Martinus Nijhoff). — The author gives an 

 account of the more important works published by Linnaeus with 

 an estimate of their value and indicates the influence which they 

 exerted upon later writers. In the course of the treatise he calls 

 attention to certain passages, some of them now almost forgot- 

 ten, which contain the germs of some of the theories which have 

 played an important part in the subsequent development of bio- 

 logical science. a. w. e. 



3. Die Algenflora der Danzig er Bucht ; em Beitrag zur 

 Kenntniss der Ostseeflora ; by Prof. Dr. Lakowitz, Oberlehrer 

 am koniglichen Gymnasium in Danzig. Pp. vii + 141, with 70 

 text-figures, 5 double plates, and a map. Danzig, 1907 (pub- 

 lished by the Westpreussischer Botanisch-Zoologischer Verein). — 

 The present work represents an important contribution to our 

 knowledge of the algal flora of the Baltic Sea. In the first sec- 

 tion the numerous species occurring in the Danzig Bay are fully 

 described and figured and artificial keys are provided for the 

 determination of the genera. In the second section the flora is 

 described from an ecological standpoint, and the distribution of 

 the various species represented is discussed. The five double 

 plates give photographic reproductions of the larger algae in 

 natural size and the text-figures show microscopic details. 



a. w. E. 



4. A Text-Book of Botany ; by Professors Strasburger, 

 Noll, Schenck and Karsten ; third English edition revised 

 with the eighth German edition by Dr. W. H. Lang ; pp. x + 748, 

 with 779 illustrations, in part colored. London, 1908 (Macmillan 

 & Go.). — The Bonn Text-Book of Botany has now reached its 

 ninth German edition, the first one having appeared in 1895. 

 The demand for so many editions within so short a time gives an 

 indication of its great popularity, and it is without doubt the 

 most comprehensive and satisfactory botanical text of the present 

 time. When the third English edition is compared with the 

 second, which was published in 1898, the most important changes 

 are to be found in the section devoted to the Phanerogamia. 

 This portion of the work was originally prepared by Professor 

 A. F. W. Schimper, but upon his death was entirely rewritten 

 by Professor Karsten. Schimper's treatment still appears in the 

 second English edition, but is replaced by Karsten's in the third. 

 The three other sections of the book, devoted respectively to 

 Morphology, Physiology, and the Cryptogams, are brought down 

 to date, and a copious index of literature concludes the volume. 



a. w. E. 



