INTRODUCTION TO FRESH WATER ALGM. 
An unpretending little volume, under this title, has lately been 
published in the 44 International Scientific Series,” and it is the 
first time that a handy manual of Fresh Water Algse has been 
published, with descriptions of all the British species, and figures 
of the genera, at the reasonable price of five shillings. It will 
surprise some of our readers that the 44 Journal of Botany ” could 
have admitted to its pages such a violent panegyric as we hereby 
re-print for their edification. 
“ The author of this book deserves the highest credit for his good 
intentions. To furnish the public with a book of handy size con- 
taining descriptions of the British Fresh Water Algse, and figures 
of all the genera, with an introduction to their study— all this at a 
reasonable price — is an aim of the most worthy kind. The plan 
of the book and the idea of producing it are most creditable to 
Mr. Cooke, but he should have induced someone else to carry the 
matter into effect. 
44 Soon after the publication of Cooke’s 4 British Fresh Water 
Alga?,’ it was shown by Dr. Nordstedt in these pages ( 4 Journ. 
Bot.,’ 1887, 355), and by other writers elsewhere, that Mr. Cooke’s 
claims to illustrate this subject are of the most slender character.* 
Mr. Cooke’s methods of book production were then laid bare, and 
the character of many of his figures was properly described by the 
most eminent living authority on this subject. It is, of course, 
impossible for us to know whether Mr. Cooke took that lesson to 
heart, and has prepared the present volume as some sort of apology 
for his more ambitious work, or whether he remains 4 of the same 
opinion still.’ Judging from the book before us, the latter view is 
much the more likely one. In the Introduction, p. 6, Mr. Cooke 
says : — 4 The historical review may be briefly summarized by 
dividing it into three epochs, of about forty years’ duration for 
each, the first being limited by the publication of Dillwyn’s “ Con- 
fervae,” the second by Hassall’s 44 Fresh Water Algae,” and the 
third by Cooke’s 44 British Fresh Water Algae.’” Here is an 
author who refers to his own book as an epoch-making one ! and 
such a book ! Phycologists live in perilous times when Cooke’s 
4 British Fresh Water Algae ’ marks an epoch. 
44 Those who know Mr. Cooke’s numerous and varied writings 
are familiar with his refreshing habit of speaking out the faith that 
is in him without deference to authority, and with hard words for 
those who may excite his wrath. His chapter on 4 Classification’ 
in this book contains a scathing reference to Mr. A. W. Bennett’s 
classification of Algse, and his chapter on what is here called the 
4 Dual Hypothesis * is to be noted for its outspoken language. 
Mr. Cooke must be aware that in this matter he lives in a very 
* This is a misrepresentation, as the communication quoted does not 
allude to “ British Fresh Water Algse ” at all, but to a subsequent work. 
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