BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 157 
than the editor wishes now to be understood has been aimed 
at" But, on referring to that notice, we are satisfied that 
the most sanguine expectations we thus expressed, are here 
fully realized: or if any expression requires to be modified, 
it is that “the author only wishes to retain as species such 
as afford readily ascertainable characters, rejecting those 
which exhibit intermediate forms,” &c. Mr. Leefe’s views 
are no doubt more correctly stated in the present work. 
" Thelabels are intended only to supply a correct set of 
names for the specimens—this, alone, being no easy matter, 
When it is considered that the descriptions, to which the 
plants must be referred, are very often rather representations 
of forms than species, together with occasional synonyms 
and remarks. Any attempt, however, to define the limits 
of specific variation has been abandoned ; because the editor 
feels strongly, that until the value of the characters on which 
specific distinctions are founded, has been ascertained by ex- 
periment, the limits so assigned could only be looked upon 
as guesses at truth. At the same time, with a view to pro- 
mote inquiry, he has prefixed to the collection, a table, in 
Which such Willows as he thinks are not species are arranged 
as varieties ;—but in doing so, he wishes to be clearly un- 
derstood, that he does not profess to decide dogmatically, 
but merely to express a suspicion, that in order to facilitate 
the study of the Salices, it is desirable to combine, instead 
of any longer separating the various forms; not indeed 
.. Passing them by without notice, but reducing them to what 
. "pear their proper ranks. It is true, that in a paper 
.. Printed in the Transactions of the Botanical Society of Edin- 
~ “urgh, the editor expressed rather a strong opinion respect- 
ing the distinctness of certain species so called, and this will 
Probably be the conclusion arrived at by most persons to 
_ Whom those of any one locality are accessible; but an in- 
. . Spection of a large series of specimens from several localities, 
. 285 convinced the editor that his views were in some degr 
(100 contracted" | — 
_ Mr. Leefe now enters upon his useful task with a mind —— 
