28 
NEW OR CRITICAL BRITISH ALGJS. 
Miss Barton has had, at the outset, to meet an undoubted difficulty 
in studying the subject because of the great labour involved in the 
collection and verification of records, and she most certainly 
deserves the thanks of all algologists for the thorough manner 
in which she has performed her self-imposed task. We could have 
wished, however, that she had adopted a classification more in 
accord with modern research, and we must own that we entirely 
fail to see how the adoption of that course would 11 have presented 
difficulties in tabulating and comparing the Cape marine flora with 
other floras and destroyed the chief interest — that of geographical 
distribution — of such lists as the present.” A reliable table of 
distribution can only be drawn up from a comparison of specimens 
collected in the regions the floras of which are to be compared. A 
table compiled from “ lists ” only is apt to be very misleading, as 
it is always more or less uncertain whether the same species is in- 
dicated by the same name when used by two different authors, 
resident, perhaps, in widely separated countries, who have had no 
opportunity of comparing their specimens with type or even 
authentic ones. Three new species are described in the list, but we 
fear few algologists are likely to recognize them from the descrip- 
tions, which are very incomplete. Carpoblepharis minima seems to 
be separated from C. flaccida , Kutz., simply by its minute size. 
The description of Spermothamnion Schmitzianum is equally 
applicable to several species of Spermothamnia , and one may be 
permitted to doubt whether it is really distinct from S. repens. 
Putting these minor points out of consideration, however, the 
work is well done, and we trust that before long Miss Barton 
will prepare a revised edition of her list. 
Die Algen der Kieler Fohrde. By Th. Reinbold (from “ Schriften 
des natur wissen schaftlichen vereins fiir Schleswig- 
Holstein ”). 
The fourth and concluding part of Major Reinbold’s valuable 
little book is a welcome addition to the literature dealing with the 
Baltic marine flora. It may be said to form an introduction to 
Prof. Reinke’s “ Algenflora,” in which no descriptions of the 
species are given, and the size of which renders it unsuitable for 
everyday use. The descriptions are succinct and to the point, and 
the book will prove useful not only to Major Reinbold’s own 
countrymen, but to Englishmen and others resident in countries 
where many of the new or little known species may be expected 
to occur. 
Sur les Algues d y eau douce recoltees en Algerie. By M. C. 
Sauvageau (“ Bulletin de la Societe Botanique de France,” 
Vol. xxxix.). 
Although the Phanerogams and even the marine algse of Algeria 
have attracted some sort of attention from botanists, no account, 
other than that given by Montague, many years ago, is to be met 
