1893. ; Botany. 665 
and Wallace, when cast ashore they find a suitable place for germina- 
tion, while many other seeds although transported fail to be placed in 
a favorable situation. I collected several beans of Gigalobium scan- 
dens on various beaches, but the plant had not gained a foot-hold as 
its habitat is the dense woods of the larger islands. But the bulk of 
the flora of the Bahamas is either maritime or such as would, under 
favorable conditions, be likely to pass through the salt water ordeal 
successfully. The islands are all low and probably most of the species 
are found within the influence of the sea.” 
The Saprolegniacez of the United States.—The monograph 
of the Saprolegniacee of the United States, prepared by Dr. J. E. 
Humphrey, and published by the American Philosophical Society, is a 
notable contribution to the botany of the lower plants. It occupies 
eighty-six quarto pages of text, and is illustrated by seven large plates. 
The author first discusses the group in general, giving much attention 
to the non-sexual and sexual reproduction, and bringing out many 
interesting facts. He confirms the statement of DeBary and others 
that the so-called sexual reproductive organs are Mord sex- 
ual, though not physiologically so im all cases. 
The second part of the paper is occupied with descriptions of the 
genera and species. Seven genera are known to occur within our limits, 
viz: Saprolegnia, with seven species; Pythiopsis, with one species; 
Achlya, with eight species; Aphanomyces, with two species; Dictyu- 
chus, with onespecies; Leptomitus, with one species; Apodachlya, with 
one species. A number of other species are described, of which as yet 
no specimens have been found in the United States. A bibliography 
of 110 titles is given, of which but five areby American authors. The 
plates add much to the usefulness of the paper, and should make the 
study of these much less difficult than heretofore. 
Dr. Humphrey recommends the following method .of cultivating 
these plants. “The most prolific source of supply is water containing 
green algs, and the best subsistance is afforded by insects, such as 
' common house-flies or meal-worms. For material, a handful of algæ 
may be taken from the stream, pond or pool in which they are growing 
and placed ina collecting bottle or other vessel, which will protect 
them from drying. In the laboratory, these are placed in a vessel of 
water from the public or private water supply, and the culture insects 
are thrown upon its surface. This collection of a mass of alge with- 
out water, except that retained by the mass, reduces the bulk of speci- 
mens, which is of importance when they are taken at a distance from 
