REVIEWS. 
187 
first we would refer to tlie section devoted to so-called notable phenomena. 
Under this heading we are treated to a very exhaustive account of the pecu- 
liar phosphorescence of fungi. Among many quotations is one from Tulasne 
of interest, which shows that almost all parts of the fungus are in some 
cases brilliant with phosphorescent light. He says, 11 Among the first 
Agarics which I examined, I found many the stipe of which shed here and 
there a light as brilliant as the hymenium, and led me to think it was due 
to the spores which had fallen on the surface of the stipe. Therefore, being 
in the dark, I scraped with my scalpel the luminous parts of the stipe, but it 
did not sensibly diminish their brightness ; then I split the stipe, bruised it, 
divided it into small fragments, and I found that the whole of this mass, even 
in its deepest parts, enjoyed, in a similar degree to its superfices, the pro- 
perty of light.” And Mr. Cooke cites many other cases both from his own 
experience and that of others, of this curious property. We should have 
been glad had he been able to give us a fuller account of the chemistry of 
the process, though we doubt not it is simply, as Sir Id. Marsh showed in 
the case of animal luminosity, phosphorus slowly combining with oxygen. 
Mr. Cooke does not appear familiar with Mr. Sorby’s curious researches on 
the subject of the spectra of certain colouring matters in plants, some of them 
fungi we think, but he has recorded several very interesting facts nevertheless. 
In the chapter on the influences and effects of fungi the author mentions some 
very remarkable instances of the poisonous action of these plants, one case, 
that of the Fly Agaric being excessively singular, viz. that to Englishmen 
it is excessively poisonous, while the Russians eat it freely. We would 
quote a portion of the last chapter, but we have already exceeded our 
allotted space, else we should like to have given the author’s advice to the 
collector of fungi. But after all it is needless, for we are sure that all who 
are interested in the matter must procure the book, which is not only the 
sole work on the subject, but is as good as a book can be. 
DESCENT AND DARWINISM.* 
H ERE is a book which contains nothing new, but which is nevertheless a 
most valuable addition to our literature, from the extremely able and 
withal excessively popular manner in which it puts before the reader some 
of the greatest speculations of the age. It is essentially a Darwinian type 
of book, written by one who is familiar with the subject ; and if it has been 
written in English by its German author, he is assuredly a master of our 
tongue. There is not a passage in the work which is not given in the 
most excellent English. The first few pages explain the author’s views, 
and show us in a moment the style of matter that we may expect. In 
these Professor Schmidt takes very severely to task the words of Luthardt, 
in which it is asserted that in considering questions of ethics we must adopt 
* “ The Doctrine of Descent and Darwinism.” By Oscar Schmidt, Pro- 
fessor in the University of Strasburg. London : King & Co., 1875. 
