worked amongst western rocks, must have regretted that Palæontologists have generally given so little attention to the remains of Polyzoa characterizing these formations. These delicate forms of life existed in great profusion during portions of the Palæozoic era, especially during the deposition of some of the lower members of the great Carboniferous series, and are often met with in a good state of preservation, where no other organic remains are to be seen. Consequently when accurately classified, and the species and genera are fully described and illustrated,— due care being taken to determine the exact geological position of each,— they will at once become an important guide in the identification of strata. The task of classifying, describing, and illustrating these remains occurring in the western rocks, has been undertaken by Dr. Prout of St. Louis, who has produced several valuable papers on this subject, previous to the publication of that now under review. His last paper, mentioned at the head of this notice, contains full descriptions of nine new species, and two new genera, with four beautiful plates illustrating these and some of the species described in his former papers. These plates are engraved on stone by Leopold Gast and Brother, of St. Louis, from drawings by Dr. Prout and Mr. Gast, and bear evidences of skill and accuracy. The new genera described in this paper are Semicoscinium and Septopora, and the new species, Semicoscinium rhomboideum, Fenestella hemitrypa, F. banyana, Limaria falcata, Flustra spatula, F. tuberculata, Septopora Cestriensis, and Polypora tuberculata.

Dr. S. also thinks he has identified a Permian species, Polypora biamica of Keyserling, in the Upper Archimedes Limestone, a member of the Lower Carboniferous Series, at any rate no essential differences were observed in the specimens compared. It is probable however, that when better specimens are obtained, showing all the characters of this Lower Carboniferous form, it will prove distinct from the Permian species. M.

III. BOTANY AND ZOOLOGY.

1. Collections of Cuban Plants.-Mr. Charles Wright revisited the eastern part of Cuba in the autumn of the year 1858, where he still remains, engaged in botanical explorations in that little-known region. His collections of dried plants, up to last autumn, have already been received; and the Ferns, which form a large and very attractive part of them, have been distributed into sets. A number of these sets, not yet appropriated, are offered for sale. The fullest of these sets contain about 180, the smallest 120 species, which may be increased by further collections to a moderate extent. Sets can be obtained from Professor Gray, Cambridge, at $10 per hundred specimens. Of phænogamous plants, soon to be distributed, a very few sets are still open to subscribers, at the same price. It is expected that the species will be named very soon. The names of the ferns are about to be published by Mr. Eaton of New Haven, our principal Pteridologist. The rich collections in the lower Cryptogamia, made by Mr. Wright in his former visit to Cuba, along with those of the present exploration, are now in course of study, the Musci and Hepatice by Mr. Sullivant, the Lichenes by Prof. Tuckerman, the Fungi by the Rev. Dr. Curtis, preparatory to their distribution in

named sets. Those who desire to secure full sets should make early application to Prof. Gray, who will have them in charge during Mr. Wright's absence.

A. G.

2. Systematic Arrangement of the Species of the Genus Cuscuta, with critical remarks on old species, and descriptions of new ones; by GEORGE ENGELMANN, M.D. (Extr. from Trans. Acad. Science of St. Louis, vol. i, pp. 453-523; separate issue pp. 73,) 8vo, 1859.-It is well known to botanists that Dr. Engelmann has for many years been making a special study of Cuscuta, and that, besides his own and other American collections, those of the principal European herbaria have been rendered to him for examination. His recent visit to Europe enabled him to extend and to revise his study of this genus. The study of the Cactaceae of North America, which so long interrupted the former investigation, having been brought to a conclusion, Dr. Engelmann has at length been able to publish his revision of the whole genus Cuscuta. The thirtyeight species more or less known to Choisy when he elaborated this genus for the Prodromus are doubled in the present enumeration, although an equal number, including several of Choisy's, and of his own formerly proposed, are reduced to synonyms, or arranged as varieties. Many species prove to be remarkably polymorphous, and require an array of varieties and subvarieties to express their manifold diversities in systematic form. The work has involved immense labor, and bears the marks throughout of the most patient and conscientious treatment. Sound views prevail in the generalities as well as in the details; the Linnæan genus is preserved intact, but disposed in three primary groups or subgenera,-Cuscuta proper, Grammica, and Monogyna, and these in nine sections. The species of the first group are all indigenous to the Old World; those of the second are mostly American and Eastern Asian; of the third principally Asian, but two species extend into Europe, one is Texan, and one South African.

A. G.

3. On the Distribution of the Forests and Trees of North America, with Notes on its Physical Geography; by J. G. COOPER, M.D. pp. 40, 8vo. Extr. from the Report of the Smithsonian Institution for 1858.The tables illustrating the geographical distribution of our trees and larger shrubs bring together and systematize a great amount of valuable information. As a first essay, it appears to be all that could be expected; and the author himself, having taken up the subject with great zeal and good opportunities, will doubtless perfect it in the future reports for which he is collecting materials. Since the catalogue purports to be one of the trees of the United States, we should not have included shrubs, except those of the largest class, and a few which belong to genera characteristically arboreous, such as Quercus, Acer, &c. Such depressed shrubs as Prunus maritima and Cerasus pumila are surely out of place. The incongruity is all the more serious in the catalogue of the trees of the regions of the Rocky Mountains and westward, which regions being "comparatively poor in trees," the standard is there still farther reduced, "since shrubs become more valuable where trees diminish in number." This confusion of economical with scientific considerations has the effect of representing the western part of the continent to be far richer in trees than it really is. Of the 108 species in this list only a moiety would

seem to make good their claim to be called forest trees, or trees at all. And in this connection we venture to suggest that the minimum as well as the maximum height which the trees attain should be given. The average height is the more important to be known; the maximum is rather a matter of curiosity. "The reason for giving the maximum heights [only] is, that it is thought the cultivation of trees will become some day a matter of national interest, and I wish to show what they are under the best natural circumstances, supposing that, with cultivation, they will at least equal this standard." We do not suppose so. Under the same circumstances, the Lambert-pines of future ages might indeed aspire to 300 feet in height, and the giant Sequoia to 450 feet; but planted trees, with room to spread as they should, are never drawn up as in primæval forests.

The delineation of natural provinces and regions in North America, according to the distribution of our arborescent vegetation, opens wide questions upon which we must not here enter. We should incline to broader views and fewer subdivisions, as preferable for exhibiting the general facts of the case, and more likely to be stable.

The Floridian region is said to have "about thirty-two characteristic and thirteen peculiar trees," and accordingly would appear to be far more strongly marked than any other of the nine. The erroneous impression which this may give would be removed by an expansion of the statement that "Florida appears rather to belong to the West Indian province." Nearly all these peculiar or characteristic trees belong to the Keys, and are Bahaman or West Indian species. Probably no other part of North America is really so destitute of peculiar species of plants as southern and eastern Florida.

In conclusion, while we heartily thank Dr. Cooper for this interesting and useful essay, and expect still better results from his continued investigations, we simply enter a protest against the anachronism of appending an early author's name to a species under a genus which he never heard of, and against the bad taste of writing the names of persons without a capital initial,-both innovations from which botanical writings have thus far been nearly free.

ZOOLOGICAL NOTICES.

A. G.

1. Prof. J. VICTOR CARUS, of Leipsic, writes to the Smithsonian Institution, July 27, 1859, as follows: "During the last two years, I have been collecting materials towards a general catalogue of zoological literature, from 1750 up to the present day, including not only all the separately published works, books and pamphlets, (most of which are to be found in Engelmann's Bibliotheca Historico-Naturalis,) but also, and especially, all the papers, articles and notices contained in periodicals, the number of which is increasing every year. All the titles and references will be arranged systematically, not according to the alphabet of the authors, but within the classes and groups according to the alphabet of the genera; so that at a glance one will find the whole literature of any particular genus." Prof. Carus calls for aid in obtaining access to American scientific papers, many of which are found in periodicals which are difficult to obtain, as he wishes to make his work as nearly complete as possible. Any who wish to further his laudable object would confer a favor by forward

SECOND SERIES, Vol. XXIX, No. 85.-JAN., 1860.

ing to him synopses of the contents of the more obscure publications, copies of minor papers, etc.

2. Die Klassen und Ordnungen des Thier-Reichs, wissenschaftlich dargestellt in Wort und Bild. Von Dr. H. G. BRONN, Prof. an der Univ. Heidelberg. Leipsic and Heidelberg; C. F. Winter, 1859. 8vo. with plates. Of this excellent work now in the course of publication, five parts have appeared, containing the Amorphozoa and part of the Actinozoa. The subject is treated in a masterly manner, and the work will undoubtedly be far more complete in its character than any general treatise on Zoology yet published. It commences with an introduction, giving a short general account of the nature of the Animal Kingdom, a history of its investigation by zoologists, and a tabular view of the characteristics of the five subkingdoms, (which are named Amorphozoa, Actinozoa, Malacozoa, and Entomozoa and Spondylozoa,) in regard to their radical form, radical number, embryonic development with reference to the "PrimitiveTheil" and position of the yolk, organic system, the head, nervous system, structure of skeleton, teeth, circulatory system, and blood.

In the body of the work each class is treated of under the following heads: I. Introduction, an account of the name and literary history of the class; II. Organic structure; III. Chemical composition; IV. Vitality, and Embryology or Development; V. Classification; VI. Geographical and Topographical Distribution; VII. Geological evolution; and VIII. Signification in the Economy of Nature. In the Introduction a full bibliography is given for each class. Under the head of Classifi cution, a systematic review or synopsis is given of the sub-classes, orders, suborders, families, sub-families, relationships, (sippschaft) and genera, (sippen); more than the usual number of subdivisions being introduced. In this synopsis, such characters only are given as are necessary to discriminate between known genera, but the work is carefully brought up to the present state of the science in a more thorough manner than has been attempted before in any general work. Some useful abbreviations are introduced which will tend to a convenient shortening of descriptions, although it would have been perhaps better to have formed them from Latin rather than German words. (See p. 44, Vol. II.) The plates are well done, and illustrate not only the structure and development, but a considerable number of the generic forms of each class. The wood-cuts are less remarkable for artistic excellence.

W. S.

3. Description of Oceania (Turritopsis) nutricula, n. s. and the embryological history of a singular Medusan Larva found in the cavity of its bell; by Prof. JOHN MCCRADY, (Proc. Elliott Soc. Nat. Hist. of Charleston, S. C., vol. i, p, 55-90); and The Gymnophthalmata of Charleston Harbor; by the same author. (Ibid., i, p. 103–221. Plates 4-12.)-These articles, particularly the latter, form the most valuable contribution to the history of our American Hydroidea that has appeared since Agassiz' papers in the Memoirs of the American Academy. Like the latter, they are written in that easy, interesting style which is so much more agreeable to the reader than the dry description of details which constitutes the bulk of biological writings. The author has put forth some new views, and enlarged upon the suggestions of his predecessors, in a manner well worthy of the attention of scientific zoologists.

Prof. McCrady states that there is no essential difference between the so-called alternation of generations and a regular metamorphosis, which he calls a homogony, after Gegenbaur. The hydroid larvæ therefore of the Gymnophthalmata should no longer be separately named and described, but their history should be included in that of the species to which they belong, as is done in the case of Insects. For the group the name Hydroidea is retained, following the rule of priority, Cryptocarpe of Eschscholtz being rejected on account of its erroneous significance. In subdividing the group the author seizes upon an excellent character, founded upon the mode of growth in the medusa-buds, which has been overlooked by previous investigators. In Tubularia, Coryne, etc., the outer covering of the bud becomes the disc of the medusa, and the digestive tube is enclosed from the first. In Campanularia and its allies, on the contrary, the digestive tube projects at first freely from the bud, and becomes afterward enclosed by the over-arching disc, which grows outward from its base. Upon this ground the Hydroidea are separated into two sub-orders-Endostomata and Exostomata. This subdivision is confirmed by characters derived from the full-grown Medusa :-in the first group these are deeply bell-shaped, sometimes even sub-cylindrical, with no sinuses in the radiating tubes, and a long digestive cylinder pendant from the disc; in the second they are generally broad and shallow, or saucer-shaped, with many sinuses in the radiating tubes, and a short digestive cavity imbedded in the disc. In the former group are included the Corynidæ, Velellidæ, Tubularida and Siphonophora. Recent investigations have shown that the Velellida and Siphonophoræ are true Hydroidea and the free medusa (Chrysomitra) of Velella has been observed and described by Huxley, Vozt, Kolliker and others. The development of the medusa-buds in these two families is after the manner of the Endostomata. In the latter group, Exostomata, the author includes the Campanularidæ, Sertularidæ and Æginidæ, with several genera the family connections of which are uncertain.

In the description of the Hydroidea of Charleston Harbor, Prof. McCrady has more than doubled the number of species known to exist on our shores. He describes 32 species belonging to 30 genera, 8 of which are new, as follows;-among the Endostomata, Turritopsis, Corynitis, and Dipurena; among Exostomata, Encheilota, Entima, Epenthesis, Phortis, and Persa. In the genus Nemopis the author has failed to discover the ocelli described by Agassiz as existing in the tips of the upturned tentacles, and says that the darker hue of these tips is occasioned by their greater thickness. The Globiceps tiarella of Ayres (Eucoryne elegans, Leidy) is found in Charleston Harbor, and is placed in the genus Pennaria by Prof. McCrady, who describes its medusa. The parasitic medusa found in the bell of Turritopsis nutricula, and described in the first paper as the young of that species, is afterward considered to be the young of a Cunina. The paper closes with a discussion of the geographical distribution of the American Hydroidea.

W. S.

4. On the zoological affinities of Graptolites; by Prof. JOHN MCCRADY. (Proc. Elliott Soc. Nat. Hist., i, p. 229.)-These paradoxical fossils are regarded by Prof. McCrady as similar to the toothed rods of the larvæ of Echinoderms, described by Joh. Muller. The great discrepancy in size