198 NOTICES OF BOOKS. 
phieal and other details to the fragmentary journals of his messmates. 
When to these considerations we add that Mr. Seemann has been ac- 
tively engaged in superintending the publication of the natural history 
of his voyage, and is himself the author of two parts, which have 
already appeared, on Botany, it must be admitted that his activity and 
intelligence deserve our cordial praise. 
In the Narrative of the Voyage Mr. Seemann's style is lively and 
agreeable ; but, as was to be expected, the work derives its chief in- 
terest from the botanical details and excellent sketches of scenery and 
objects of natural history with which it abounds. The melancholy 
death of his predecessor, Mr. Edmonstone, is related with much feeling 
by one of that gentleman’s shipmates, and there is a good résumé of 
all the Arctic Searching Expeditions that have left our shores, from the 
pen of Mr. Petermann. Though the candid and modest preface should 
disarm general criticism, we must express our disapproval of the quo- 
tation of four pages of trash on the society of St. Helena. Mr. 
Seemann had neither time nor opportunity for forming any judgement 
on this little community, to which the officers, and particularly the 
naturalists, of many expeditions have been largely indebted for frank 
hospitality and ready assistance. Such second-hand censures are not 
only calculated to do mischief, but they stand out in disagreeable con- 
trast both to the high scientific value of the work and to the amiable 
disposition of the writer. 
Fort ORCHIDACEA, Part HL, dy Professor Lindley. 
So rapid is the appearance of this important work, that at the pre- 
sent rate of publication it may almost be considered monthly, and yet 
exhibiting no undue haste in the preparation. The present number 
is wholly devoted to the continuation of the genus Epidendrum, from 
the 100th species to the 253rd, and will doubtless be carried on in the 
forthcoming part. 
Errata (in the translation of Professor Liebmann’s Memoir on American Oaks). 
P. 326, line 20, for equator, read tropic; p. 335, line 6, for insect, read cochineal- 
colony ; p. 335, line 36, for southern, read South Sea; p. 336, line 12, for tenui- 
folia, read lancifolia. 
