46 
MASSEE ON MUCORS. 
fairly safe standpoint. The introductory part of the present 
volume will give the reader an idea of the amount of investigation 
yet necessary as proved by the directly opposed views of the best 
workers on subjects that are of primary importance.” 
The volume contains chapters on Morphology, Geographical 
Distribution, Lichen-forming Fungi, Myxogasters, Schizomycetes, 
Collection and Preservation of Fungi, Examination of Fungi, 
Classification, and Fossil Fungi. It is not evident from this 
synopsis that the book treats, really, of three groups of fungi, 
somewhat related, or analogous to each other, but belonging, as 
the table shows, to the Zygomycetes, the Oomycetes , and the My- 
comycetes. That is to say, there are the true Mucors, or the old 
Phy corny cetes, and with them the Peronosporece, and allies, formerly 
included with the Mucedines; and finally the TJstilaginece. more 
commonly associated with the TJredinece. The reason for this 
association is rather obscure, especially as regards the last group. 
The general introduction will be read with much interest, and it 
occupies nearly half the volume, the residue, containing descrip- 
tions, being the practical, or working, portion for the determination 
of species. Such information as that contained in the introduction 
will be especially welcome to students, as it is written in a popular 
style, and will commend itself also to those who are only in search 
of general information, without any intention of sitting down to a 
practical study of the subject. Accustomed to teaching, with a 
fund of experience, the author is here to be seen at his best, but 
we cannot say that we admire the execution of the plates. The 
figures are hard and wooden, in many cases, and often heavy and 
ugly. They will not compete with those we are in the habit of 
seeing in foreign works, such as those of Brefeld for example, and 
do not say much for English pictorial art as applied to scientific 
subjects. 
It is hardly necessary to state that we are not fully in accord 
with the writer in all his conclusions and opinions. Here and 
there we meet with such opinions, but as they are mostly on matters 
of secondary importance, and even sometimes qualified in their ex- 
pression, we see no occasion to parade them. Taking the book as 
a whole, we are prepared to extend to it our unqualified recom- 
mendation, and to coincide in the hope expressed in the last 
paragraph of the preface “ that other volumes dealing with the 
remainder of the fungi will not long be delayed.” As Mr. Massee 
is a persevering and industrious worker, it will hardly be his fault 
if such a consummation be not attained. 
In order to convey some idea of the style and matter of the 
introduction we will transcribe a few paragraphs by way of specimen : 
“ From a broad point of view the characters that separate plants 
from animals are (1) permanent cell-walls composed of cellulose, 
at least when young ; (2) the presence of chlorophyll, which 
enables plants to feed on inorganic food. It is well known that 
certain plants belonging to widely separated natural orders have 
