names; nor have specific names been changed unless t lie change was 

 unavoidable. "We have preferred to devote our time to the study 

 of the plant itself" the authors say. and certainly if the choice had 

 to be made, they have chosen wisely. We have an ample supply of 

 botanical literature, affixing the author's name to new binomials, 

 representing plants that the author would never recognize if he met 

 them. The authors of this work know their plants thoroughly, and 

 those who enjoy juggling with names, can do it at their leisure. 



In the matter of specific limitations, there is quite a tendency to 

 broaden out a species, and give form names to what others would 

 consider autonomous species; not less than 142 "formae" being 

 named in this work, some representing former species, some being 

 newly distinguished. Laminaria, Alaria and Fucus give good exam- 

 ples of this practice: but perhaps the most striking are in Corallina 

 and Amphiroa; here the disappearance of former species is quite 

 startling. Two new genera, Whidbeyella and Collinsiella are pro- 

 posed, and nine new species ; the authors propose nothing as a vari- 

 ety, recognizing the term only as used by other authors. Descrip- 



good plates; the type and paper are excellent. Specimens are 

 referred to by collectors or exsiccatae members: there is a good 

 index, and a very full list of the literature of the subject. Exact 



longitude, etc., of each: this novel feature is contributed by Professor 

 George Davidson of the University of California. 



No work of such general importance to this department of Ameri- 



fifty years ago ; and while undoubtedly much will be added by the 

 subsequent studies of the active botanists who are doing such good 



