New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-09
NEW PUBLICATIONS

pUcTIoS TO me STUDY OF MARINE AIqE. BY A. d;
svo, Pr. 300. Boston s. =. Cassino.
All lovers of the beautiful i'll nature who live at
the seaside, who go down to the shore ior i
season. even those who have received collections OF
@sea-weeds" from seaside friends. will feel thank
ful for this beautiful. handy-slzed volume IL VII
not satisfy the scientist the microscopic observer
The author did not intend it should. Scientists arc
few in number; levers of the beautiful ought u oo
as numerous as the inhabitants.
TIE work is constructed to enable anyone with
the aid of q pocket lens TO name all the common
and conspicuous or beautiful align OF tho Atiahtic
coast of the United States north OF the Cmohnas
and Pacific shores 1t is strange that till this book
was published there was not an American work OF
convenient size describing those most beautiful OF
plants the sea MOSES. The only works Oh the sub
feet were the three large quartos of Haryeys and
small pamphlet by ID. s. Jordan. This last was too
small to be of much the others were too large
and too expensive.
The volume opens with an introductory chapter
giving full and good directions for collecting.
mounting and preserving the specimens. 1t is very
complete both in this introduction and in the body
OF the work, in giving the localities where special
kinds to be found; also the times and seasons
when they can best be collected. The work describes
hundred and Soventy-tve different species belong
ing to seventy eight different genera. This includes
all except the very rare or the very minute kinds to
be found in the area given.
The second chapter contains descriptions of the
"bright green alg,e," and opens with good artit-
cial key to the genera. careful use of this will
enable anyone to determine the genus of n good
specimen, even ii it u preserved n card
after this is obtained, by turning to the por
ton of the chapter where the different species of the
genus described there should be no difficulty in
fixing the specific name. The third chapter III the
way takes up the olive-colored alga." The
fourth contains the descriptions of over a hundred
species of "red alge," and comprises about half OF
the work. A very useful glossary and index closes
the book.
BY an oversight of the author the Atlantic genera
Gelidium and Champia are not included in the key
70 the genera of the Atlantic coast" In the same
way there an omission of the genera Irdiea and
Pocamium from that of the Pacific coast. The
genus GymnogOngrus should be placed also under
the head Frond fliform cylindrical" on page
1872 to include the Californian species c..
Griffithsa. 1t would be much better to place after
the name of each genus in the keys the mum Ter of
the page where the description of the species be
found asst is the student after tracing to the genus
must turn to the index before further progress can
be made.
The numbering of the chapters is carelessy done
thus "Chapter ". Red Ag@" which really
begins page 125, is printed on page 1873.
"Chaper III. Olive Colored Alge," should be
printed on page e. Each chapter should open
with somewhat full description of the kinds of
plants which belong to it. Under the heading
merely of Bright Green AlgB' who would expect
to find purple Porphyral Or under the head " Red
Alge." green Chondrus, white Coralina, black
Ahntetia or brown PolysiphOnia?
The publishers have performed their part of the
work well; the plates very accurate in giving
the appearance, both in outline and color, OF the
species represented. The letter press, paper ana
binding are all that can be desired AS a whole the
work supplies a want long felt, and supplies it we'll
The few corrections and additions needed can
easily be given in new edition. which ought to be
soon calcd for.