161 
Vere eines Commentars über die Pflanzen in den Werken von Marc- 
grav und Piso, ete. Attempt at a Commentary on the Plants in the 
works of Marcgrav and Piso on Brazil; with some further details con- 
cerning the Flora of that Kingdom. By Dr. C. Fn. Pu. von Martius. 
1. Cryptogames. Munich, 1853, 4to. (From Memoirs of the Royal - 
Bavarian Academy of Sciences. Cl. IL. vol. vii. sect. 1.) Translated 
from the German by Dr. Warren, V.P. Royal and Linn. Soc. 
Introduction. 
Among the memorials of a dawning literature in the Natural History 
of Brazil, the writings of Maregrav and Piso undoubtedly occupy the 
first place. As the works of the Spanish Gonz. Hern. de Oviedo, and 
Frane. Hernandez, must be acknowledged to be the primary sources in 
those respects, with regard'to the Antilles and Mexico; so must this 
praise be conceded to the Dutch Wilh. Piso and the German George 
Marcgray, in respect to Brazil Those two men were the first who 
exclusively, or at least principally, made the Natural History of the 
New World the subject of their writings. 
The accounts of the discoveries of Columbus, Americus Vesputius, 
the three reports which were printed of Cortez, the Decads of Petrus 
Martyr de Anglevia, the historical works of F. L. de Gomara, Pedro 
de Cieca, Diego de Castillo, Hieron Benzoni, and others, had no doubt 
furnished much information ou the nature and products of that new 
World, which displayed itself to the astonished Europe as a theatre 
of wonders; still, leisure, opportunities and knowledge were wanting 
to those first discoverers, the Conguistadores, and their reporters, to 
undertake and note down any matured and detailed researches re- - 
garding natural productions. 
So late as the second century after the discovery of America, the 
curious in Europe had scarcely any other source of information than - 
the original aecounts named above, and the numerous translations 
from them; and compilations, such as Collectio Grynzo-Hervagiana 
(Novus orbis regionum etc. Basil. 1532, fol.) of the sea-voyages of 
Ramusio, Hakluyt, Theod. de Bry, Hulsius and others, which, judging 
from their many editions, were read with interest. Although Portu- 
guese and Spanish travellers and employés frequently furnished many 
valuable reports on a variety of objects of Natural History, they were 
VOL. Y. Y 
