Reviews. 
229 
The authors go on to express their opinion that “ whatever the 
taxonomic value of the numerous segregates of the last decade or 
two, the fact that the binomial form conceals the relationship to the 
original species, and that the segregate itself is based not at all or 
only slightly upon habitat relations makes them of little value to 
the ecologist.” The writer must confess that he is out of sympathy 
with the point of view here adopted by the authors. 
The book, we are told, is the forerunner of the long-promised one 
on the vegetation of the Rocky Mountains which has been “ under 
way” since 1899. “The description of several hundred units [the 
authors’ ‘species’] were written in the field from a large number of 
individuals, whenever possible under different conditions.” The 
arrangment of this as well as of the preceding book follows in general 
the Besseyan system of classification ; but “ the pines are placed at 
the end of the book quite frankly out of their proper position for 
reasons of convenience.” A leading feature of the book is its illustra¬ 
tions. Many of these are in colour; and the rest are line drawings. 
The latter are drawn largely from herbarium material, and are (except 
in case of fruits, etc.) natural size. The coloured illustrations are 
by Mrs. Clements, and have with few exceptions, been made in the 
field. There can be no doubt that they enhance the appearance, 
interest and usefulness of the book very considerably. As in the case 
of “ three-colour ” reproductions generally, the greens are not very 
successful; but otherwise the reproductions are very pleasing, and 
demonstrate the skill and versatility of the talented authoress and 
artist. 
(3) Some time has elapsed since the publication of Bessey’s 
Synopsis of Plant Phyla (University Studies, Lincoln, Nebraska, 
vol. vii, no. 4). During the interval “ many changes in the 
arrangement of the orders and families of several of the phyla” 
have been made; and “ on account of their considerable number,” 
the present paper, published but a short time before the author’s 
lamented death in February last, has been issued as a whole, “ so as 
to accomplish the revision of the original paper with as little 
confusion as possible.” Professor Bessey thinks that the vegetable 
kingdom is “ readily separable ” into fourteen phyla; and no apology 
need be offered for citing the following interesting table and figures 
from page 1 of the paper under notice :— 
1. 
Myxophycece 
Classes 
... 2 
Orders 
... 4 
Families 
18 
Species 
... 2,020 
2. 
Protophycece 
... 2 
... 7 
... 16 
... 1,090 
3. 
Zygophycece 
2 
4 
21 
... 7,000 
4. 
Siphonophycece 
... 3 
... 9 
... 26 
... 1,260 
5. 
Pliceophycece 
... 3 
... 5 
... 24 
... 1,030 
6. 
Rliodopliycece 
CarponiycetecB 
2 
7 
... 24 
... 3,050 
7. 
3 
... 29 
... 146 
... 64,000 
8. 
Bryophyta 
... 2 
... 7 
... 65 
... 16,600 
9. 
Pteridopliyta 
2 
... 5 
13 
... 3,800 
10. 
Calaniophytn 
... 3 
... 3 
4 
24 
11. 
Lepidophyta 
... 2 
3 
7 
700 
12. 
Cycadophyta 
... 4 
... 6 
13 
140 
13. 
Strobilophyta 
1 
... 2 
9 
400 
14. 
Anthophyta 
... 2 
... 32 
... 300 
...132,500 
Total 
... 33 
... 123 
... 686 
...233,614 
