Botany and Zoology. 169 



uable reference book for instructors and higher students. But 

 the somewhat encyclopedic arrangement and lack of what may 

 be called general perspective make it unsuited to the large class 

 of students whose knowledge of the subject is elementary. The 

 chief merit of the work is in the unusually full account of Algae 

 which are copiously illustrated. The part on Fungi is a conden- 

 sation of other well-known treatises, and the condensation has 

 been carried so far that this portion of the work seems to be 

 crowded into a space quite disproportionate to its relative impor- 

 tance. The attempt of the authors to reform the terminology in 

 common use on the basis of conformity to what they assume to 

 be the rules of English etymology, is by no means to be com- 

 mended. To let well enough alone should be the rule in science 

 as elsewhere. "W. G. f. 



4. Bathymetric conditions as to growing corals and other species 

 of Tizard and Macclesfield Banks, in the China Sea, by Com- 

 mander W. U. Moore, R. N. and P. W. Bassett-Smith, Esq., 

 Surgeon R. N. — The facts here cited are from a Report from the 

 Hydrographic Department of the Admiralty, published in March 

 last. On the Tizard bank it was found that live corals in blocks, 

 and of more or less vigorous growth, occurred as far as a depth 

 of 13 fathoms; and in small fragments, as far down as 32 

 fathoms ; but at greater depths than this, no evidence of living 

 corals was obtained with the dredge and swabs used, which 

 "might drag over low blocks of Astrsea or Porites without de- 

 taching species." "A living specimen of Astraea was found in 

 one of the deepest parts of the lagoon at a depth of 45 fathoms, 

 amongst hue green sand." 



Where the section of soundings was through a part of the ele- 

 vated rim of reef, which reached to the surface of the water, or 

 when it was near such a part, a steep declivity was found some- 

 where on the slope between 7 and 30 fathoms. The lagoon banks 

 were apparently crowned with dead coral ; the floor was covered 

 with sand, and the slope down to it was very gradual. 



On the Macclesfield bank, coral was found living as far down the 

 slope as 44 fathoms; it may extend farther, as the work was here 

 suspended. There is no steep declivity at a moderate depth as 

 in the Tizard bank, but there is an extraordinary drop between 

 65 and 115 fathoms. 



5. The Coral Reefs of the Hawaiian Islands • by A. Agas- 

 siz. Pp. 121 to 168 of vol. xvii of Bulletin Mus. Comp. Zool. 

 Harvard College, with 13 plates. Cambridge, April, 1889. — In 

 this paper Mr. Agassiz discusses the character of the Coral reefs, 

 the elevated reefs, and the results of deep borings in the Hawaiian 

 group. His views and conclusions are an important contribution 

 to the subject of the origin of Coral reefs and islands. 



6. The Fisheries and Fishery Industries of the United States. 

 Prepared through the cooperation of the Commissioner of Fisheries 

 and the Superintendent of the Tenth Census, by G. Browne 

 Goode, Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution and staff 



