REVIEWS OF BOOKS. 



291 



of the flower are in fives. Accordingly it is a Dicotyledon." But suppose 

 fours stood instead of fives, it would not only answer for willow-herb, 

 but also for Paris, a Monocotyledon. One character of this latter class 

 is given as " stems with scattered fibro-vascular bundles." This may be 

 true for a palm-stem ; but suppose a gardener tested it with herbaceous 

 flower stems, he would find but little difference, if any, between them in 

 both classes. As other puzzling statements — it is said, " Corolla coloured 

 [white omitted]. Perianth usually 3-1-3." Under "Marsh and Land 

 Plants" are Typha and Sparcjanium, both of which are often actual 

 water-plants. As Dicotyledons contain so many families the use of 

 signs soon becomes very complicated ; and we doubt much whether a 

 gardener will work through the series till he comes down to PPPPK2 -|- 2, 

 C4, A4— X, G which stands for Capparidacece. 



"The Self-educator in Botany." By R. S. Wishart. 8vo. 226 pp. 

 (Hodder k Stoughton, London.) 2.s. 6^7. 



" This book is written for those who are prepared to examine actual 

 specimens." No one who wished to learn botany would do otherwise, 

 and this book will be a help, but in no sense a substitute, for practical 

 work. It is in two parts : one deals with the various plant organs, the 

 other with classification. The figures are somewhat crude, but sufficient 

 as guides to help the beginners. ^Ye note a few statements which should 

 be corrected if a future edition be required. First, there is no index, a 

 serious omission. On p. 39 there is no mention of the pericycle : it appears 

 to be united with phloem as prosenchyma. "Pyliferous" is frequently 

 written for " piliferous," as on pp. 4, 6, 7, 8, 9. The root-cap of Dicotyledons 

 (except aquatics) is not distinct as in Monocotyledons (p. 49). We think 

 the expressions "intelligence and selfishness," "robbing and murder," 

 misleading and out of place ; the tentacle of a sucker might be more 

 accurately drawn ; the gland is misleading (p. 101), &c. If the student 

 does not attempt to use the book fcyr cramming purposes, it may be a 

 help ; but to attempt to write out a description, as of Bursa Btirsa-pastoris 

 given on p. 176, requires a more elementary training in describing plants 

 for a self -educating botanist. Why does the author not give the accepted 

 name Capsella ? 



" Wayside and Woodland Blossoms." By E. Step. 8vo. Series I. 

 176 pp. Series II. 171 pp. (Warne, London.) 6s. net each. 



A few criticisms might be made on these excellent little books, which 

 are very suitable for anyone who wishes to know our principal wild flowers 

 without trouble. The author's teleological tendencies are hardly compatible 

 with modern ideas ; e.g. " acridity appears to have been developed as a 

 defence against herbivorous animals." Evolution does not recognise 

 structures made in anticipation, but only as results.. 



The only objection of importance we feel inclined to make is that the 

 illustrations follow no order. If the idea of the author is that the reader 

 may regard our wild flowers botanically — and the index suggests such to 

 be the case— it is most important that beginners sh:uld learn the sequence 

 of thefamihesas described in our floras horn Ranunculacece to Graminece. 



