160 NOTICES OF BOOKS. 
hitherto accomplished, cannot be compared with the vastness of the 
treasures of nature, of which Art may, at a future time, avail itself.” — 
And again : “ If in the frigid zones the bark of the trees is covered with 
discoloured spots, occasioned by the presence of Lichens or Mosses, in 
the regions of the feathery Palms Cymbidium and the aromatic Vanilla 
enliven the trunks of Anacardium and of gigantic Fig-trees. The 
fresh green of the Dracontium, and the deeply-cut leaves of Ferns, 
contrast with the many-coloured blossoms of Orchises; the twining 
Bauhinia, the Passion-flower, and the yellow-blossomed Banisteria, 
climb high into the air around the stems of the forest trees; delicate 
blossoms unfold themselves from among the roots of the Theobroma, as 
well as from the thick and rugged bark of Crescentia and Gustavia, 
In the multitude of flowers and leaves, in this luxuriant growth, and the 
confusion of climbing plants, it often becomes difficult to distinguish to 
which tree the blossoms, and to which the leaves, belong: indeed, a 
single tree, adorned with Paullinias, Bignonias, and Dendrobium, pre- 
sents a multiplicity of plants, which, if separated one from another, 
would cover a considerable space.” Influenced by these and other like 
passages in the writings of Humboldt, a talented Prussian artist has paid 
a visit of some months to New Grenada, penetrated to the snowy 
mountains of the Andes, where Zolima rears his gigantic head, and has 
brought home a rich collection of drawings of scenery and studies 
from nature, of a very high order of merit, especially made with a view 
to the grander forms of vegetation in the tropics, the enormous root- 
ing trunks of the Fig-trees, the various large-leaved Arums, the Tree- 
ferns, but, above all, the lofty and most graceful Palms. These have 
received the approbation of His Prussian Majesty, of Baron Humboldt 
himself, and of Chevalier Bunsen. By the favour of the two latter 
gentlemen we have been permitted to inspect this collection, and we 
cannot but rejoice that a selection of them is to be made, to be litho- 
graphed by the author in Germany, and to be published in this country, 
by Colnaghi, early in next year. Besides their excellence, as works of 
art, they represent, faithfully, many of the most striking vegetable 
forms that exist, along with the attendant scenery, the rocky gorge, 
the sparkling water-fall, the still, sluggish river, or the snow-capped 
Andes. Descriptive letter-press will explain thé plants, which the 
author takes great pains to have accurately named. 
—— — 
MOM LL Sir iud 
