SOME EXOTIC FUNGI. 
7 
On Ipomea. Darien, Georgia, U.S. (Rav., No. 4000). 
On Batatas paniculata. Natal (Wood, No. 882). 
The North American and South African plant appear to be 
identical and possibly not distinct from P . crassipes , B. and C. 
MOSSES OF NORTH AMERICA.* 
The volume before us is clearly printed, in excellent type, on 
good paper, and in every sense promising. Examination of details 
soon brings the satisfactory conclusion that the promise is well ful- 
filled, and that this is a useful and valuable contribution to Bryo- 
logical literature. The plates, on which each genus is illustrated, 
remind us at once of those in Wilson’s “ Bryologia,” but the letter- 
press is bolder and more distinct. It is just one of those books 
which can be used with pleasure, and we congratulate the pub- 
lishers on the performance of their share of the enterprise. More 
important still, however, is the matter. than the manner, and here 
again we think that the Bryologist will confess himself satisfied. 
The surviving author will feel thankful that his labours are 
brought to a close, for it is no light thing to undertake a 
“ manual ” of this kind, as we know from experience, and it is to 
be hoped that he will be gratified by its reception. To say that 
the work is fully up to the standard of the time, and has been care- 
fully prepared and edited, is perhaps not a very glowing eulogium, 
but one which will commend itself to the student. We have heard 
it stated that it is the duty of a reviewer to hunt up all the faults 
in a work he can possibly find, and expose them. This is not ex- 
actly our estimate of duty, and if it were we must confess that it 
would puzzle us to find anything in the present book to grumble at. 
Experience in the use of a work of this kind is always the best test, 
but one which requires time. It does not appear to us that the 
authors have any reason to doubt the verdict of experience. It 
seems to us an honest bit of good work, and we do not hesitate to 
commend it to our readers. Alas 1 that we have not such a 
manual for British Mosses. Wilson’s is out of print, and it must 
be long ere Braithwaite’s can be hoped to be completed. The pre- 
face to this present volume thus concludes — and with it our hearty 
commendation : — “ This 1 Manual of American Mosses’ is believed 
to include descriptions of all the species of mosses (about nine 
hundred) that are as yet known to occur on the North American 
Continent within the limits of the United States and northward. 
It includes the results of the researches of Sullivant and myself, 
continued until 1872, as well as those of James, Austin, and Rau ; 
and also such species as have been described by European Bryo- 
logists, Schimper, Mitten, Mueller, Hampe, Lind berg, &c.” 
* “ Manual of the Mosses of North America,” by Leo Lesqnereux and 
Thomas P. James; six plates, 448 pp., 8vo. Boston: Cassino and Co. 
London : Triibner and Co. 
