128 



7^ev/'c:vs cmd Book Notices. 



dunes, and mud-flats. The veg-etation of the estuary of the 

 Tay (described by a veteran Perth botanist,. Mr. W. Barchiy) is 

 an interesting confirmation of the distinctions between maritime 

 and estuarine vegetation, pointed out, in the case of the Humber, 

 by the author of 'The F'lora of the East Riding of Yorkshire.' 

 A section of the paper deals with the vegetation of lochs, 

 marshes, and bogs. A theme running* through the whole paper 

 is that natural groups of plants fall into two great divisions — 

 those which result from a water-supply comparatively rich in 

 available plant-food (e.g., oak wood, grass moor, lowland lake, 

 and marsh), and those resulting from a poor food supply (e.g., 

 pine w^ood, heather moor, highland lake, and bog). The asso- 

 ciations recognised in the botanical surveys of Scotland and 

 Yorkshire are classified in a summary, and it is at once obvious 

 how much the Pennine surveys have contributed to our knowledge 

 of the plant associations of Britain. 



These papers form a valuable contribution to our knowledge 

 of plant associations, and will be indispensable to all interested 

 in the study of vegetation. Dr. Smith is to be congratulated 

 on the energy he has shown in prosecuting a work which is 

 rapidly bringing this country to the front in the study of this 

 branch of ecology. Little in the way of criticism is called for. 

 The use of plate paper for the illustrations would have greatly 

 improved the appearance of the work, and we notice that the 

 author of ' Cybele Britannica' rejoices in still another name, 

 ' Hugh Coterill Watson.' 



Hints on Collecting and Preserving Plants. By S. Quiton. 



Pag-es II. -r55. West, Newman & Co. is. 



This handy little volutrie may be safely recommended to young- botanists 

 as a guide to collecting and preserving plants. It has evidently been 

 written by one who takes great pride in his collections, and though the 

 instructions are at times elaborate, it is important that a beginner should 

 pay g-reat attention to good methods of pressing, mounting-, and labelling-, 

 and so make his specimens tell all they possibly can. This in itself is 

 a useful training, and a collection prepared on the lines indicated by the 

 author will be much more valuable than those commonly met with. The 

 outfit recommended, however desirable it ma}- be, is so cumbrous that many 

 will shrink from the attempt. We believe equally good results may be 

 obtained by much more simple means, but this the botanist will soon 

 discover for himself. The book contains many useful hints, and will be 

 found both helpful and suggestive to the collector. 



Tine ' Animal Report of the Museums and Meteorological Observatorv 

 of Bolton for 1904' is to hand. The principal addition to the Natural 

 Historv Section is the Peaple's Collection of British Birds' Eggs, bequeathed 

 h\ the late J. P. Thomasson. It contains about 7.200 specimens, including 

 70 examples of Cuckoos' eggs, with those of their foster-parents ; also a 

 series of 650 carefully selected eggs of the Guillemot. 



Naturalist, 



1 APR. 1905 



