240 THE AMERICAN NATURALIST. Line 
first time. The same criticism holds elsewhere in the treatment of 
alternation of generations. Though both are confessedly stumbling- 
blocks for beginners, it seems certain that a development of these 
matters phylogenetically would have been more logical and more 
successful. 
The consideration of adaptation to environment is comprehensive 
and replete with suggestions. Occasional inaccuracies creep in, and 
' in a few instances doubtful or debatable explanations are presented 
as certain. The ecological factors considered are gravity, mechan- 
ical forces, heat, light, moisture, soil composition, and biological 
environment. Following this a chapter is given to the treatment of 
hydrophytes and one to xerophytes. Halophytes and mesophytes 
are also considered briefly. The treatment is good in the main, but 
in certain places it lacks coórdination. This is doubtless due to 
lack of space, since the detail itself has apparently required pruning. 
The last two chapters deal with the intimate processes in the life of 
the individual and of the species. Protoplasm is treated of in a 
peculiarly striking and clear manner. Nutrition, growth, movement, 
protection likewise receive elementary treatment in simple logical 
fashion. The maintenance of the species, involving the phenomena 
and problems of propagation and reproduction, is clearly stated and 
is most suggestive. 
. Books, like people, are well dressed when the dress is not noticed. 
Until they attain this standard, however, it is a distinct pleasure to 
have to do with a book in so many ways faultless as the present one 
in the art of printer and engraver. When it is borne in mind that it 
belongs to the dubious class of “ state-printed " books, it is at once 
seen how painstaking the author must have been to have produced 
a book of such uniform excellence of press-work and illustration. 
It is novel and encouraging that a book of this sort should be 
published by the Board of Regents of a large university for the 
instruction of the people of the state. It is a distinct misfortune 
that the book is not on the market, as it should be found as a ref- 
erence or reading book in all schools in which botany is taught. 
FREDERIC E. CLEMENTS. 
Britton pub- 
lished a list of state and local floras ot the United States and Brit- 
ish America, which has been of very great use to botanists working 
on the classification and distribution of our native plants. One 
hundred and six titles appear for the New England States. Miss 
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