215 
that the collection of flowers represented on its pages was gathered 
together “ with the hope of making their acquaintance more easy 
to non-scientific folk than the much condensed manuals of our 
flora are able to do.” = 
The family sequence is that of Gray’s Manual, as is also the 
nomenclature and terminology, in regard to which the authors in- 
' geniously remark: “The choice of botanical terms has been in- 
tentionally confined to those which long usage has so wrought 
_ into common speech that they have practically ceased to belong 
’ to strictly scientific nomenclature.” 
The figures are sketchy, but are perfectly true to nature, are 
entirely lacking in stiffness or conventionality, and give in every 
instance an excellent general idea of the plant’s appearance in the 
field. The descriptions are simple; they include both the botani- 
cal and popilar names, and many little notes and hints which 
never find place ina scientific work. The exceedingly popular 
Style of the text which prevails throughout may be judged from 
the following extract under “ Hypericum maculatum, Lesser St. 
John’s Wort. * * * This little plant’s habits are in marked 
contrast to its larger brother John, for it is as tidy in rolling up 
into tiny bundles its faded petals as the other is careless of ap- 
pearances,”’ 
Taken all in all, the book will always be useful for assistance in 
determining the names of the plants which are figured, and it isa 
matter for regret that the work has not been carried any further, 
It compares more than favorably with most other works of its 
kind. A. H. 
Notes on the mmnth Edition of the London Catalogue of British 
Plants. G. Claridge Druce. Annals of Scottish Natural His- 
tory, 1896: 38~5 3. 
Our attention has been called to this interesting paper by the 
learned editor of the “ Journal of Botany” in the February issue 
of his now happily enlarged organ. Mr. Druce’s review of the 
“London Catalogue”’ is critical and valuable, including matters: 
of typography, classification, generic limitations, capitalization of _ 
Specific names, citation and nomenclature. He points out that a 
large number of generic and specific names adopted in the Cata- 
logue are antedated by others, and calls for the abandonment of 
