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BOOK REVIEWS. 
Warnstorf, C. Kryptogamenflora her Mark Brandenburg und angren- 
ZENDER GEBIETE. ERSTER BAND. LeBER UND TORFMOOSE. 8VO. 481 
pages, 231 figures in text. Gebrueder Borntraeger, Leipzig, 1903. 
Herr Warnstorf, of Neuruppin, Germany, has long been known to both 
European and American botanists as an ardent student of the bryophytes 
and especially of peat-mosses. For many years he has devoted a great deal 
of attention to the rich bryological flora of the region around his home, and 
the present work is the result of this study. It will consist of two volumes. 
In the first, which is referred to above, the hepatics and peat-mosses are 
treated ; the second will be devoted to the “ Laubmoose ” or true mosses and 
may be expected in the near future. The work is intended not only for the 
advanced bryologist but also for the beginner. To this end a chapter is 
included which gives directions for the collection, preservation and study of 
specimens, and there are also numerous and practicable keys for the determ- 
ination of species. In the present volume, 111 species of hepatics and 39 of 
Sphagnum are accredited to the Brandenburg region. All of these species 
are described and all except a few are figured; attention is also called to 
many other species which are to be looked for in the region but which have 
not yet been found there. The descriptions are full and accurate and are 
often interspersed with biological, physiological and morphological notes of 
much importance and interest. The figures in most cases represent struc- 
tural details, which bring out the differential characters of the species 
treated. 
Herr Warnstorf ’s book is not merely of local interest, but has much in 
it of value to the American student, a fact which is at once apparent when 
we remember the close similarity between the bryological flora of Europe 
and that of northern North America. Among the Brandenburg hepatics, for 
example, no fewer than 85 have also been recorded from North America, 
while only 26 are peculiar to Europe. In New England at the present time, 
128 species of hepatics are definitely known, 102 of which are common to 
Europe. Herr Warnstorf describes 70 of these species and alludes at length 
to 8 others; those which are not mentioned are mainly alpine or subalpine 
species of limited range. Among the Brandenburg Sphagna, all except 6 
are common to North America. Aside from the purely descriptive portions of 
the work, the introductory chapter, which depicts the physiographical pecu- 
liarities of the region treated and the characteristic moss-societies to be 
found there, is especially to be recommended. Little work of this sort has 
as yet been done by American bryologists. 
Alexander W. Evans, 
New Haven, Conn. 
