No. 390.] REVIEWS OF RECENT LITERATURE. 537 
BOTANY. 
Campbell’s Evolution of Plants.‘— In publishing his lectures 
on the evolution of plants, delivered at Stanford University, Dr. 
Campbell has done a good service not only to students of botany 
but also to a wide circle of readers interested in general biological 
problems. The book will prove enjoyable reading to persons with 
no more knowledge of the technicalities of botany than many high 
schools now afford. Teachers have long desired such a book for use 
with advanced pupils. At the same time it will be welcome to 
botanists as a broad, clear statement of the main facts of plant 
development and their interpretation from the most modern point 
of view. 
After an introductory chapter, followed by one on “The Condi- 
tions of Plant Life,” the author discusses in nine chapters the 
morphology, ontogeny, and phylogeny of the principal types of the 
vegetable kingdom, and finally, in three chapters, gives a rapid 
survey of “Geological and Geographical Distribution,” the interrela- 
tions of ‘“ Animals and Plants,” and the “ Influence of Environment.” 
Each chapter and the book as a whole concludes with a helpful 
“ Summary.” 
The truly scientific spirit of these lectures cannot fail to exert a 
wholesome influence upon the students who read them. We find 
throughout the clearest distinction made between what is actually 
known and what may be more or less probable, and in weighing 
probabilities rival views are treated with perfect fairness. Due cau- 
tion and entire frankness are most happily combined with ample 
freedom of the “scientific imagination.” 
One always feels entire confidence that Dr. Campbell’s statements 
are not only trustworthy but up to date. In this case the impression 
is of a wide range of facts and ideas presented as nearly as possible 
in their true perspective. FREDERICK LERoy SARGENT. 
A Recent Work on Bryophytes.” — The first part of the second 
volume of Goebel’s important work on the organography of plants is 
now before us and well maintains the high standard set by the first 
volume, which has already been reviewed in the Naturalist. The 
1 Campbell, D. H. Lectures on the Evolution of Plants. 12mo0, viii + 319 pp., 
6o figs. New York, The Macmillan Company, 1899. 
2 Goebel, K. Organographie der Pflanzen, Zweiter Theil, Heft 1. Jena, 1898. 
