Garden, 1783, p. 92, no. 228. It is true that no description is given, but there is no possibility, in the face of his note cited above, of doubt as to what plant Curtis meant. Moreover, we have in the British Museum specimens from Curtis's garden in 1782, to which Solander has affixed both names; and others from the original Charlton locality, similarly endorsed by Edward Forster. The name ventricosa dates from about 1790. Goodenough says Solander named it in his MS. C. depauperata, "whom Dr. Withering first followed"; and that name will be found in With. Bot. Arr. ed. 2, 1049 (1787), where it is quoted from "Curt. Cat." The plant should therefore stand as C. depauperata Curt. Cat. 92 (1783); and this name must replace C. ventricosa in the next edition of the London Catalogue.— James Britten.
W. Kent Brambles. — Mr. W. A. Shoolbred and I, last autumn, found two additions to the vice-comital list, viz. Rubus puhescens Weihe, var. subinermis Rogers, frequent about Stone Street, near Ightham; and R. adornatus P. J. MuelL, on Bitchett Common. These have been agreed to as correct by Mr. Rogers. — Edward S. Marshall.
NOTICES OF BOOKS.
Introduction to the Study of Fungi: their Organography, Classification, and Distribution, for the Use of Collectors. By M. C. Cooke, M.A., LL.D., A.L.S. Pp. x, 360. London: Adam & Charles Black.
The economic importance of a knowledge of the characteristic features and mode of development of the various parasitic Fungi, which cause diseases among farm and garden crops and animals, has often acted as a stimulus in forwarding the study of this class of plants: the exquisite beauty of some of the Hymenomycetes, their edibility, and even the joy of a day spent on a *• fungus-foray," have occasionally acted in the same way. For the satisfaction of persons who have been desirous of restricting their study of Fungi in these grooves, admirable treatises have been written suited to their taste. However, for the more limited number of students aspiring to a more complete knowledge of the main features of the whole class of these plants, little has been done. Possibly the constantly changing views and opinions, and the ever-increasing amount of investigation regarding their morphology, development, and classification, acted as a deterrent to publication of a work which would almost necessarily have been out of date as soon as issued from the press. Although among the forty thousand species of Fungi a very large number still occupy the " lumber-room " and await further research before our knowledge of them is satisfactory, the energetic work of specialists during the last ten or fifteen years has cleared away much darkness, and made it possible to lay down broad outlines in regard to the structure, affinities, and other matters connected with this large section of the vegetable kingdom.
