234 NAT URE
142
Cryptogamic Botany
Vol. I : Algæ ønd Fungi. By Gilbert M. Smibh. Pp.
viii 545. 24c. Vol. 2 : Bryophytøa and Pterido-
phytøs. By Gilbert bI. Smith. Pp. vii-]-380. 18s.
{McGrnw-Hill Publications in thø Botanical Scienoøs. )
{New York and London : MeGraw-Hill Book Co.,
Inc., 1938.)
THESE two volumes together form a good
A general røviøw of thø Gryptogam8 in whioh
røprøsøntativø søriøfi in each of the major groups are
described in detail. Though most of the types
chosen aro those found in the United States, the
majority are so very widespread tha4 students who
adopt thesø books for their reading in cyptogamic
morphology need not nøeesaaríly be eonfinød to bhø
United States. Thuø, the work should bø welcomed
by British students, since, though the major groups
of Gryptogøma arø well røviewød in separate British
text-books, therø are few aetisfaotory øinglø workø
which cover all representative Cryptogams.
Vol. 1 opens with a diaeussion of the cløeøifieation
of øpore-produeing plants. The author givøs cogent
reasons for not recognizing the Thallophyta øe a
division of thø plant Kingdom, buŁ prefers to aplit
the Algæ into several distinct divisions. He also
gives reøøonø fur considering t,he T’ungi ø8 having
evolved from Protozoa rathør than Algæ, and thøre-
forø køspø thøm apart. Following this diaoußsion are
døseriptiona of various ìypøs of Algæ, Fungi, Fungi
Imperfeoti and Liehens.
Vol. 2 considers thø Bryophyła ønd Pteridophyte.
The Bryophytø nrø considered in the evolutionary øeries
—Hepeticæ, Anthocørotæ and ãtusci ; thus the
author follows Howe’ø suggestion that the Anthoeerotæ
(consisting of a øingle order—Antho- eerotøles} be
plaoed in a sQØCi8l el s • CO-OPdiR&ÈB with the other
two. The Pteridophyła are divided into the morø
generally accepted olasses—PaiIo- phytinæ,
Lycopodinæ, squisetinæ and Filicinæ.
Thøøs two volumes can bø warmly recommended
to øtudønta of oryptogamio botany. In thømsølveg,
thøre iø enough material for students reading for ø
gønersl døgrøø, whereas for the benefit of honours
degree studenłø ard research workers there are
about two thousand references.
The Petrology of the Sedimentary Rochs
By Dr. F. H. Hatch and Dr. R. H. Rastall. Third
edition, revised by Maurice Black. (Tøxt-Book of
Petrology, Vol. 2.) Pp. iv + 383. (London : George
Allen ønd IJmin, Ltd., 1988.) lõe. net.
M UGH research on problems connected with the
eedimentøry reøks haø beøn carried out since
the publication of the lash edibîon of Ttateh ønd
Røntøll’a text-book, in 1923. The appøarancø of a
revised edition iø therefore timely. Thø author an‹d
subject bibliographies with which the latest edition
ia provided reveal the øxtent of the Iitøraßuro on
sediments, and it is noteworthy that a very con-
siderable proportion of the papers citød have been
issued during the last fìfteøn years. The 4ask of
revision, whioh høa been carried out by Mr. JYt.
Black, must therefore have been no light one.
© 1938 Nature Publishing Group
AuGusz 6, 1936, vow.
AotuøJly a great deal of the text has been re-written,
and the general arrangement of thø subject-me.tter
høs been modified. Apart from the inoorporøtion of
nøw material, an important chango ia thø omission of
the chapters on metamorphiøm. These, it is claimed,
would now be superfluous, owing to the publication
recently of Dr. A. Hackers’ book “Bletamorphism”.
On the other hœnd, Mr. T. Grook’s useful appendix
on the minerals met with in the loose detrital sedi-
ments, which was excluded from the second edition,
haø bøen rø-introduced in modified form.
Mr. Black has oarriød out his tøøk very thoroughly,
and føw omiasionß of øny importance were notød. It
iø perhøpø to be røgrøtted 4hat a aubstøncø of such
economic importance and øoientifio intørøøt an
bauxite should not have røoeix•ed fuller trea4ment ;
and it is rathør surprising that no refererioe iø matte
to the limoøtonø deposits İcnown aB ‘oornstonøs’ thai
are so well known in Britain. Theøs, however, are
minor blemishes in what is, ło all intents and pur-
poøøs, an entirely new tøxt-book, filling a definite
gap in British geological literature. Both Mr.
Black and the publishers ars to be congratulated on
itø preparation.
Rainfall and Tree Growth in the Great Basia
By Ernøt Antøvs. (American Gøographieøl isociety,
Speeial Publication No. 21.) Pp. v -J-97 -]- 2 plates.
{Washington : Carnegie Institution ; New York •
American Gøographioal 8ooieły, 1938.) n.p.
I‘ røosnłi yearø drought has bøoomø a major problem
in the wøøtøro fitøtes, and it is important to
atudy the variations of rainfall over aø long a period
as poaeiblø. Tn thie region there arø few rainfall
stations with long records—soarcøly any before 1871—
ønd the auŁhor aooordingly ßet out to Bupplø- møn4
these with data from other sources, suoh as historical
records of rains and droughts, crops, thø levels of
lakøa and rivera and especially I.he annual
grow-th-ringø of trøss
The arøa studied inoludes a number of lake sytems
in ł,hø Grøat Bøøin, mainly in Orøgon, northern
California, Nøvada and Ułeh. Each ørsœ is discussed
in considerable detail ønd the rosulte ai'ø expressed
in eurvøs ønd tøfiulations baok to about 1850, with
ourvea of Łrøe-growth permitting general eøt,imatøs
for longer periods. The røøults of thİs detailed study
are then combined in a summary of the major
fluctuation8 of rainfall since 1801, from whioh the
auŁhor draWB SOmø hopeful inførønces øø to a future
improvement in the water supply. In order to find
a parallel to thø drought of 1824—34, he has to go brick
IO the 1840’s. Since 1887 therø İiave been nearly
thrøø complete minor oscillations, but it is doubtful
İf thøaa arø truly periodic, and the prødiełions of
water supply bø6ed on them are to that extent
uncertain. Tliø final chapters givø the ‹nirves of tree-
growth bøck to 1450 and disouas their 8ignifí- calico.
The book is a most interesting study of historical
climatology, bringing together and interpreting
Several different lines of evidence in a sound and
oritieèl way,