646 © General Notes. J uly, 
sary for the three remaining classes, viz., Myxomycetes, Zygomy- 
cetes and Odmycetes. The great value of this work lies in the 
fact that the descriptions are very full, and include accurate 
measurements. 
n the year 1882 P. A. Saccardo began the publication in 
«Padua, Italy, of what is destined to be one of the great books of 
the century, the Sylloge Fungorum, designed to contain all the 
known fungi of the world. The first and second volumes are 
devoted to the Pyrenomycetes, of which great group about 6000 
species are described. The third volume, devoted to the Sphe- 
ropsidez and Melanconiez, appeared in 1884. It contains de- 
scriptions of over 4000 species. Volume Iv appeared in April of 
the présent year. It is devoted to the Hyphomycetes, and de: 
scribes over 3500 species. TR 
The descriptions in Winter’s work are in German, those im 
Saccardo’s Sylloge, in Latin. Both are full, although the treat- 
is much more satisfactory in the former. Saccardo merely 
compiles, and thus often admits the same plant under more than 
one name, while Winter is exceedingly critical. The latter is 
therefore the better guide, while the former, by his liberality ™ 
admitting so many descriptions, makes these available for the 
critical study of students everywhere.— Charles E. Bessey. 
A Pocxer Manuat or Botany.—It would puzzle any one to 
make out just what the publishers of the ordinary botanical man- 
uals had in mind when they decided upon their type, pape an 
binding. A manual ought to be a field book. It should be port- 
able, with a size and weight allowing it to be carried as the com 
panion of the collector wherever he goes. Every beginner 1A 
systematic botany ought to carry his manual with him, but it 1s 
- 
e +. Cöleges. the 
In the “ Tourists’ edition”! of Coulter’s Botany we have co 
th p hi 
e 0 
us ies 
_ the ordinary edition. Had the binder been instructed "°, ehe 
~ the pages so as to leave a much narrower margin al pipet fs 
_ book would have been much improved. In order to ae : 
ee 1 Coulter’s Manual of Rocky Mountain Botany. Tourists’ edition: P2 
 Blakeman, Taylor & Co., New York and Chicago, 1885. a 
£ 
