472 Scientific Intelligence. 



merits, and has consolidated fragmentary sentences, with a free- 

 dom which lends much charm to the whole work. Some of the 

 English words chosen do not seem to us to be the most felicitous 

 equivalents, but so far as a pretty careful search has gone, no 

 misleading renderings have been observed. The authors may be 

 congratulated on their choice of a translator who carries their 

 useful work into a wider circle of students and general readers, 

 and we extend our sincere congratulations to the translator for 

 the success which he has attained in his work. g. l. g. 



4. Fossil Plants: for students of Botany and Geology; by 

 A. C. Seward, M.A., F.G.S., Lecturer in Botany in the Univer- 

 sity of Cambridge, vol. i, Cambridge, University Press. (N. Y., 

 Macmillan, 1898.) — This work comes to us with a preface bear- 

 ing the date March, 1898. The present volume consists of two 

 parts: first, a general section, dealing with important generalia, 

 and a second comprising the systematic treatment of certain 

 fossil cryptogamia. The second volume promises to conclude the 

 systematic treatment of plants, and then consider " such subjects 

 as geological floras, plants as rock-builders, fossil plants and evo- 

 lution, and other general questions connected with paleo-botany." 



The historical sketch is very short and tantalizing. The author 

 is critical and discriminating, and we should be glad to have his 

 views as to the relative value of the works of some of the writers 

 w r hom he dismisses with a mere mention. Chapter second, 

 although very brief, brings out with great clearness some of the 

 relations of paleobotany to botany and geology, and embodies a 

 spirited protest against " the narrowness of view which too often 

 characterizes paleobotanical literature." The next chapter treats 

 of the successive strata, and is followed by an extremely inter- 

 esting chapter on the preservation of plants as fossils. Then 

 comes a frank statement of the difficulties and sources of error 

 which environ the entire subject of determination of fossil plants. 

 A whole chapter of the generalia is worthily devoted to a con- 

 servative statement of the vexed question of nomenclature and 

 priority. 



The systematic portion of the treatise secures confidence from 

 the very start. Caution is shown at doubtful points, and the 

 reader is at such places put properly on his guard, but where the 

 pathway, although obscure, is safe, the author speaks boldly. 

 Moreover, the style is attractive and the tone throughout is 

 philosophical. We shall wait impatiently for the completion of 

 the useful work. g. l. g. 



5. Contributions to Japanese Characem ; by T. F. Allen, 

 LL.D. — In the midst of the cares incident to an exacting prac- 

 tice of the medical profession, Dr. Allen continues his fruitful 

 studies of the Order Characeas. The present work is on the same 

 lines as his former valuable contributions, and exhibits inde- 

 pendent treatment, especially in the demarcation of the limits of 

 species. It is earnestly to be hoped that he will continue to 

 derive recreation from researches which are of so much import- 

 ance to botanists. g. l. g. 



