944 THE AMERICAN NATURALIST. [VorL. XXXV. 
In a synopsis of the rice rats (Oryzomys) of the United States 
and Mexico, Merriam (Proceedings of the Washington Academy of 
Sciences, Vol. III, pp. 273-295) adds twenty-two new species and 
subspecies to the thirteen already known. 
Phoronis pacifica, a new species described by H. B. Torrey (ie 
logical Bulletin, Vol. II, pp. 283-288), is interesting as the first of 
this almost cosmopolitan genus to be taken on our west coast. 
BOTANY. 
Plant Life of Alabama.'— For nearly forty years the late 
Dr. Mohr gave close attention to the flora of his adopted home, 
Alabama; and the later years of his life were devoted to the prepara- 
tion of a book embodying the results of his long study. He lived to 
see the last proof sheets corrected, but the date of its publication is 
a fortnight later than that of his death. A historical account of the 
botanical work done in Alabama, a detailed study of its physiography, 
geology, and meteorology, and a discussion of the general principles 
of plant distribution, lead to an analysis of the features marking the 
Alabama flora, which, more than any other North American work, 
exemplifies the trend of modern ecological study in a varied region ; 
and the book closes with an annotated systematic catalogue of the 
spontaneous plants, including descriptions of new or critical species, 
a discussion of the relations of the flora to agriculture, and a list of 
plants known to be cultivated in the state. Considering Dr. Mohr's 
advanced age, it is remarkable that he should have adapted himself 
to the current trend of American botanists in regard to nomencla- 
ture, but in this, as in his grasp of the newer field problems in 
botany, he shows a plasticity far out of the ordinary run, and his 
work, which is of lasting value, is likely to produce nowhere the 
impression that a younger man, if possessed of his knowledge, could 
have done it better. Ww. T. 
Notes. — The varied and far-reaching character of the botanical 
work being done under the geological and natural history survey of 
Minnesota is shown by part s of the current series of Minnesota 
1 Mohr, Charles. Plant Life of Alabama, Contr. U. S. Nat. Herb, vol vi. 
921 pp., with several plates. Washington, Government Printing Office, 1901- 
