44 Recent Literature. | January, 
the only remark which I made in my paper upon this subject. In 
a challenge I am asked by Prof. Morse on what authority I have 
stated that the Ainos have platycnemic tibiz, and further Prof. 
Morse would have me regarded as the author of such a statement. 
Assuming that what T have said places me in the responsible 
position which Prof. Morse, by wrongly interpreting my words, is 
evidently desirous that I should occupy, I will say, that if Prof. 
Morse had acquainted himself with the literature relating to the 
Ainos, he would most certainly have avoided remarks upon this 
subject, and thus have saved himself from a predicament which, 
to say the least, looks extremely awkward. 
s an answer to Prof. Morse, let him refer to the well-known 
Russische Revue (10 Heft, v1 Yahrgang), edited by Carl Rottger. 
He will there find a quantity of valuable information relating to 
the Ainos, and amongst the rest something bearing on the point 
now under discussion, of which the following is a translation: 
“With reference to the anatomy (of the Ainos) it is remarkable 
that the humerus as well as the tibia has a very striking form ; 
they are marked by an extraordinary flattening ( auserordentliche 
abplatung) such as has, up to the present, never been noticed of those 
bones in any people at present in existence. On the other hand this 
peculiarity of form has been observed in the bones of extinct 
people found in caves.” (The italics are mine.) Further remarks 
upon Prof. Morse’s attack are, I think, unnecessary. If those 
who are interested in this subject will refer to my original 
article, it will be seen that much of what Prof. Morse has objected 
to, is due either to his misrepresentation of my language, or to 
his want of information on some of the subjects he has written 
upon; and’I can assure your readers that the whole of his 
remarks may be answered as easily as the subject of platycnemic 
tibia has been answered.— Fohnu Milne, Imperial College of Engt- 
neering, Tokio, Fapan, Oct. 19, 1880 
Tue Botany OF CALIFORNIA, Vou. , BY SERENO WATSON.— 
This beautiful volume is fully equal in lus of finish, and bo- 
tanical interest to its predecessor, which appeared in 1876. 
The same externally, it internally presents the large clear type, 
and broad margins which distinguished the earlier volume. This 
volume begins with the Apetalze, which includes twenty-five 
orders. Of these the Polygonaceze and Chenopodiacez are _par- 
ticularly interesting on account of the numerous species of Erio- 
gonum (52) and Chorizanthe (25) of the former, and of Atriplex 
(21) of the latter.. The nineteen species of willows, are arranged 
and described by M.S. Bebb. Dr. Engelmann contributes the 
article on the oaks, of which there are fourteen species. 
he Gymnosperms are placed, as is usual in English and - 
American works, before the Monocotyledons, The Gnetacez are 
represented in California by two species of Ephedra, viz: &. mée- 
vadensis (a shrub two feet high) and £. californica. The Taxa- — 4 
