NOTICES OF BOOKS. 191 



parts than it now presents ; or by the intermixture of the Floras of ad- 

 jacent islands with different vegetations, which have since disappeared.* 



{To be cojitinued,) 



Syllooe Geneeitm Specierumque Cryptogamicarum gnas in variis 



operi6?is descriptas iconihusque illustratas, nunc ad diagnosim redadas 

 nonmdlasqtte novas interjectas ordine systematico disposuit C. MoN- 

 tagne, D,M., etc. etc. Paris, 1855, Svo, pp. xxiv. and 498. 



We have here, in a fair and well-printed volume, an epitome of the 

 numerous descriptions of new species of Cryptogamic plants which the 

 Author has published during the last quarter of a century in the leading 

 scientific journals in various countries, and in the reports of voyages 

 of discovery instituted from time to time by the French Government. 

 Many of these books are extremely expensive, and to be found only in 

 public libraries oi in the hands of persons of considerable means ; and 

 scientific journals are so numerous that no ordinary purse can secure 

 the regular supply even of the most important. A large portion there- 

 fore of the Author's labours were hitherto available only at a consi- 

 derable expense of time and labour ; and even those who have had the 

 good fortune to be in constant correspondence with the Author, and 

 therefore to possess most of his Memoirs, will rejoice to have the whole 

 digested in a compact form, easy of consultation from the scientific 

 arrangement and the incalculable aid of an excellent index. No less 

 than 1684 species, the greater part of which are new, are characterized 

 in the volume, and some interesting notes and remarks are added 

 occasionally, containing information on points either of particular or 

 general interest. At the same time unavoidable errors are corrected, 

 and the whole nomenclature and arrangement ordered according to the 

 most recent ^ Tormation in each division ; several new species also are 

 now published for the first time, and amongst them the novelties con- 

 tained in a very interesting coUection of North American Fun^. The 

 work cannot foil to be most welcome to every one interested in Cryp- 

 togamic botany ; and we trust that the Author will be indemnified for 

 the outlay attendant on his disinterested labours. 



M. de CandoUe probably underrates the extent and elevation of the Sonth 



Aincan mountain -chains, ana ovenooK^ tuu la^^ ....«*. .^^ ,^-~.~ , ^^,^„^ ^r 



of that country have marke.ily diilcrent cUiuatca, determined by the presence of 



««-:^ji: • _ __ av_ 1 -;4« 



eastern 



