256 NOTICES OF BOOKS. 



perience, is for Nature to break one of her best-established laws : Natura 



nihil facit 



A Popular History of BniTisn Lichens, comprising an Account of tUeir 

 Structure, 'Reproduction, Uses, Distribution, and Classification; by 



W. Laudek Lindsay, M.D. 



Dr. Lindsay has been for some time favourably known to British 

 Lichenologists through his various researches into the history and uses 

 of British Lichens, which have been read before the Botanical Society 

 of Edinburgh ; these had prepared us to expect a very superior work 

 in his 'British Lichens,' nor have we been at all disappointed. The 

 book forms one of Mr, Eeeve's Popular Series, and is by very far the 

 best of these that has hitherto appeared, and, though more scientific 

 than its name implies, it is perhaps not more so than any work of the 

 kind should be, to be really a safe and useful guide. We are of those 

 who think that there is no royal road to Botany, and that there is no 

 path but a laborious one open to an accurate acquaintance with the 

 Cryptogamic branch of it ; and we further think that any attempt to 

 popularize Botany by writing down to the understandings of those who 

 will not learn the alphabet and grammar of the science, is sure to end 

 in disappointment. "We are therefore by no means sorry to see Dr. 

 Lindsay's work carried out in a scientific manner, though we could have 

 wished that he "had substituted English for many Latin w^ords. 



The subjects discussed are well arranged in six chapters, and contnui- 

 many original remarks, and are interspersed wath full citations of au- 

 thorities and interesting anecdotes. The Introduction to Lichenology 

 and its History are carefully and well written, and the botanical parts 

 are accurately done and systematically arranged ; and the chapters on 

 economic application, distribution, classification, etc., are very clear 

 and good. The work is illustrated by twenty-four excellent coloured 

 plates, which show Dr. Lindsay to be equally skilful as a microscopist 

 and an artist, and thoroughly conversant with his subjects ; but it is 

 deplorable to find these scattered through the letterpress, without names 

 attached, or references either in the index or in the body of the work I 

 It is a wrong both to the author and to the public so to arrange good 

 plates as that they shall be of the least possible utility, and appear to 

 be intended rather to catch the eye of a purchaser than to enlighten 

 the imderstanding of those for whose instruction they are designed. 



