144 



The Scottish Naturalist. 



Under Uredinece the number of "species" is considerably less than in 

 earlier works on British fungi ; but a glance at the index of species shows the 

 familiar names given as mere stages in the cycles of other forms. In this 

 reduction of so-called species the advance is very great towards a true concep- 

 tion of the nature of these fungi. But while the number of species is apparently 

 diminished the actual increase to the previously recorded British forms is very 

 considerable, though some of these are physiological as distinguished from 

 morphological species, and are therefore exceedingly difficult of recognition 

 except by following each cycle experimentally. Whatever view may be taken 

 of the value of physiological species, there is good evidence that such grades 

 as are understood by the term exist (as indeed might be anticipated by evolu- 

 tionists), and this being so it appears right to admit them to recognition as 

 such. 



The Ustilaginece show less alteration as compared with earlier records 

 than do the Uredinece ; but among them the additions are even more numerous 

 in proportion. 



A supplement includes the genera Graphiola, Entorrhiza, 7 uberculina y 

 and Protomyces, often regarded as doubtful Ustilaginece. Among these forms 

 also the proportion of additions to the British lists is considerable. 



The processes of spore-development and of germination are illustrated very 

 fully upon eight plates, since they are of great importance in affording reliable 

 generic characters. The usefulness of the book is enhanced by carefully pre- 

 pared indices of the host-plants, and of the species (and synonyms) of the 

 fungi, and by a " biological index," as well as by a glossary, and a list of the 

 authors quoted. Doubtless defects exist in this as in all scientific works ; but 

 a debt of gratitude is due to Mr. Plowright for the care and skill with wh : ch 

 he has carried a difficult labour to a successful issue. 



Don's Plants. — When recently staying at Odiham I looked over Miss 

 Palmer's herbarium, which (as I pointed out in my paper on "Geo. 

 Don " in this journal) contains a considerable number of plants collected by 

 that botanist for the Countess of Aylesford. They include a specimen of a 

 " Lamium sp. cultivated field near Forfar," which is L. intermedium Fries., 

 probably the earliest British specimen, and L. maculatum L. from Perth. 



G. C. Druce. 



AgTOStis rubra L. — Among some plants recently sent to Professor 

 Hackel I forwarded a single specimen of a grass which struck me as peculiar, 

 gathered in 1887 in West Ross. This Professor Hackel thinks may be 

 A. rubra L., but the specimen was not complete enough to decide upon. 



G. C. Druce. 



