66 
EVOLUTION OF PLANT-LIFE.* 
“ The aim of the present book is to briefly indicate, in a broad 
sense, the most pronounced features — structural and physiological 
— that characterize plant-life, as manifested at the present day, 
coupled with an attempt to trace the evolution of existing forms 
from primitive types, and to illustrate the interdependence between 
plants, animals, and inorganic nature.” 
Thus much we learn of the scope of the work before us from its 
preface, whilst the title informs us that the illustrations of plant- 
life are confined to the “ lower forms.” The first chapter is devoted 
to introductory matter, which is followed by chapters on Mycetozoa, 
Algae, Lichenes, Characese, Muscineae, Pteridophyta, and Phanero- 
gamia — the latter being limited to about four pages of definition. 
At first it might be supposed that the use of the word Mycetozoa, 
in preference to Mvxomycetes, indicated a decided leaning towards 
the “ animal nature ” of the organisms included under that term, 
but such is not the case, for it is stated that “ the spontaneous 
movements exhibited by the swarm spores are not supposed to 
prove their animal nature, as similar motile cells occur in seaweeds, 
mosses, and ferns. During the reproductive phase the whole of 
the differentiation exhibited is in the direction of plant-life, in a 
rudimentary form, as would be expected.” 
Curiously enough Fungi are not mentioned in the synopsis at 
the head of the chapters, and yet fifty pages are devoted to them, 
at the end of Chapter III., which stands in the table of contents 
as “ Algae,” whereas Algae are treated of in the first portion of 
the chapter, and Fungi in the latter. We have no intention of 
pursuing an analysis of this handy little volume, but simply to 
indicate its scope and aim. Of course all the suggestions as to 
the evolution of the various groups are matters of opinion, and 
might be open to discussion, but as they induce thought and reflec- 
tion, will serve a useful purpose. “ The Fungi are considered as 
having descended by degeneration from the Algas, and for this 
reason are placed immediately after the last mentioned class, 
although in reality they must be considered as a side and terminal 
group, not connecting with any higher type of plant develop- 
ment.” 
As a preliminary to the study of the Cryptogamia this volume 
will be welcomed, although the subjects are not equally balanced, 
since Algae and Fungi take up 100 pages, with only five for the 
Mycetozoa, and 40 pages for the residue of the Cryptogamia. We 
think there is need for a larger and more exhaustive introduction 
to the study of the different groups of the Cryptogamous plants. 
* “ The Evolution of Plant-Life, Lower Forms,” by G. Massee (University 
Extension Series). London : Methuen and Co., 1891. 
