^' 



NOTICES OF BOOKS. 181 



should be longer, as the ascent of this river alone takes two months. 



Nothing bulky could be taken either way^ nor would it be necessary, 

 as paper and everything else can easily be obtained at Quito. Not- 

 withstanding so many travellers have visited Quito, I am certain it is 

 still the most splendid station for a botanist in South America. Pi- 

 chincha and the immediate neighbourhood have no doubt been well 

 explored, but the eastern slopea of Cotopaxi, Tungaragua, etc., seem 

 still unvisited, and it is such a fine thing to have head-quarters where 

 every necessary can be promptly obtained. The mere circumstance of 

 being where bread was abundant and cheap would make an immense 

 difference in excursions of several weeks. Here there is neither bread 

 nor farinha, but in their stead plantains, of which a man eats up all 



he can carry in three days. 



" My Cryptogamic collection is daily increasing in value, and at 

 Quito would be doubtless much enriched. I should like to ascertain 

 whether there would be a sale in England and on the Continent for 

 forty sets of the Cryptogamia (Ferns, Mosses, Hepaticse, Lichens, and 

 Fungi) of Equatorial America at 30^. the hundred, the specimens 

 being all carefully named. I intend to consult also Mr. Mitten (when 

 I can find time to write to him), who I dare say would assist me in the 

 distribution of the Cryptogamia in the same way as you do of the 

 flowers. In the case of buyers being secure for these, it might be 

 worth my while to make Quito my residence for some years. It would 

 of course be optional to subscribers to limit themselves to certain^ 

 tribes of the Cryptogamia, It is needless to add that I shotild con- 

 tinue to collect the most interesting PJianerogamia. 



« R. Spuuce." 



NOTICES OF BOOKS. 



Geographie Botanique Eaisonn^e, ou Exposition des Falls prin- 

 cipaux et des Lois conceruant la Distribution Oeographique dm Plauks 

 de Vepoque actuelle; par M. Alph. de Candolle. 2 vols. 8 vo, Paris. 



^rom 



Chapter 13 is devoted to the distribution of the species of a genus 



in the area occupied by the genus. 



Chupltr 14. On the Area or Kxtcnt of Surface occupied by Cmcra. 



