NOTICES OF BOOKS^ 61 



is probable that further observation may reduce a few of these to the 

 rank of races or varieties ; and if the genera be admitted, the adoption 

 of the name of CassutJia can hardly be justified by the side of the pre- 

 existing Cassytha, a Cuscuta-like genus of Laurinece, 



M. Desmoulins' paper is wholly phytographical ; the important phy- 

 siological questions connected with the peculiar mode of growth of 

 these curious parasites are not entered into. 



Wallace, Alfrei) Russel: Palm Trees of the Amazon, and their 

 uses. With 48 plates. Small 8 vo. London : Van Voorst. 1853. 



He must be a bold man who would undertake a work on Palms 

 after the splendid and scientific volumes of the illustrious Von Martins. 

 The present however is of a very humble character, undertaken by one 

 who was, during his travels on the Amazon and its tributaries, from 

 1848-1853j *^ principally occupied with the varied and interesting 

 animal productions of the country." The Palms (and no wonder) 

 soon attracted his attention, as the most striking and characteristic 

 feature of the tropical forests. " In this little work," the author tells 

 us, " careful engravings from my original drawings are given, with a 

 general description of each species, and a history, from personal obser- 

 vation, of the various uses to which it is applied, and of any other in- 

 teresting particidars connected with it- For the determination of the 

 genera and species, and for that part of the Introduction relating to the 

 botanical characters and geographical distribution of Palms " (and as- 

 suredly for the map of America, showing the distribution of Palms) "I 

 am indebted to the magnificent work of Dr. Martins/* The chief 

 merit of the work will be found to consist in the " accurate sketches " 

 of the trees themselves, and in the accounts of the uses of. certain of 

 these ; and if the former are as faithful as Mr. Fitch's lithographs are 

 clever (though very slight), we are thankful for such a series of plates. 

 But we do not see how, with apparently no knowledge of these Palms 



forms 



species 



or how he could ascertain that his species, so called, are really ''new,'^ 

 for any study or sketches of flowers or fruit seem to be entirely neglected, 

 and the only figures given of them (and most prettily and faithfully 

 executed by Mr. Fitch) arc confined to the latter (fruits), some dozen 



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