1883.] Recent Literature. 61 
The proposition is made [Appendix, p. 956], to unite the Zygo- 
sporez and the Oosporee, because of the apparent extension of the 
Fucoidez and Siphonez into these two groups. Another suggest- 
ive paragraph on p. 956, gives a short account of DeBary's views 
respecting the affinities of the groups of the higher Fungi, as ex- 
pressed in his Beitrage (No. 4, 1881). After giving other appa- 
rent relationship, it is stated that “the Uredinez form one of the 
more highly developed groups of the Ascomycetous series,” ex- 
actly the position which we have assigned them. (Botany, p. 310, 
et seq.) 
The mechanical execution of the volume is similar to that of 
the first edition, there being the same clear type, and excellently 
printed figures. Of the latter there are thirty-one more than in the 
previous edition. To say that there are no errors or inconsist- 
encies of translation or editing, would be to claim a perfection im- 
possible in so large a volume. The.work has been so well done 
that every botanist-in this country may well thank the editor for 
his labor. However, a few things might have been avoided; for 
example, on p. 62, the term “metabolism” is used instead of 
“metastasis,” and it is there stated that it “ will be adopted in the 
following pages,” but upon turning to page 703, one finds “As- 
similation and Metastasis” as in the old edition. There is, more- 
over, a great difficulty in distinguishing between the foot-notes 
added by the editors of the first and second editions. These, how- 
pai are but small blemishes in a great and valuable work.— 
VEAB: 
DISPOSITION OF THE CERVICAL VERTEBR OF CHELONIANS.'— 
M. Vaillant has here given to the world the results of his studies 
of the cervical vertebra of nearly fifty species of Chelonians, in- 
cluding Emys ornata, Testudo sulcata, Cinosternum pennsylvanicum, 
Thalassochelys caretta, Chelodina longicollis, Sternotherus cas- 
taneus, and Trionyx javanicus, and thus ranging through all the 
principal groups of the order. 
is portion of the skeleton has heretofore been but little stu- 
died, and our author reviews all previous notices of it in the most 
thorough manner, The variations in structure are greater than 
would be expected in so homogeneous an order, yet are correlated 
with the habits of the various species, dependant in all cases upon 
their mobile neck for the power of seizing their food. Notwith- 
standing this diversity, M. Vaillant states that the eight cervical 
vertebre can always be readily distinguished from those of other 
parts of the vertebral column. f 
The greater portion of the article is taken up by technical 
description and comparison of these bones in the various species 
xamined, but a resume, with a diagrammatic tableau, brings 
‘Memoirs sur la Disposition des Vertebres Cervicales chez les Chelonians. Par 
M. LEON VAILLANT. (Présentéa l’ Academie des Sciences le 15 Nov. 1880, Annales 
Sci. Nat. Zool., Art. No. 7.) 
