160 E NOTICES OF BOOKS. 
Balfour's Class-book contrasts unfavourably with Dr. Lindley's elemen- 
tary works, which are models of conciseness, precision, and clearness. 
Lastly, a little more decided tone in points of doubt or difficulty, and 
an expression of Dr. Balfour's own views, would have been more satis- 
factory to most readers. In the course of so many years’ experience as 
teacher and observer, some facts, as worthy of record as many he 
quotes, must have come under the author's own notice; but there is a 
lack of original observation throughout, Dr. Balfour's students, we 
know, have the benefit of his great experience, and we should like to 
enjoy the same advantages through a work which is so full of admirable 
matter, agreeable aud instructive. 
We have purposely abstained from indicating the comparatively 
trifling drawbacks in the text of the work, and for the same reasons 
shall speak of the woodcuts as a whole also, and give them unqualified 
praise: most of them are beautiful, some of them (not a few) exquisite, 
and we hardly know whether to admire most the industry and zeal of 
the author, or the spirit and liberality of the publisher. We wish them 
both heartily success, and take leave of the work with less regret from 
knowing that a Part IL. is to follow. 
Dr. J.D. Hooker: Flora of New Zealand. 
We have the pleasure of assuring our readers that the above-men- 
tioned Flora is in a very advanced state, as to plates and manuscript 
and the printing of the first of the five parts announced by Messrs. 
Reeve as destined to complete the work. Each number (in quarto) 
will eontain twenty plates (coloured or plain), and eighty pages of 
letterpress. It is generally known that this publication forms part of 
the Botany of the “ Antarctic Voyage,” under the command of Captain 
Sir James Ross, and will be followed by the Flora of Van Diemen’s Land. 
The * New Zealand Flora” will contain descriptions in English and 
Latin, with copious observations, botanical, geographical, and econo- 
mical (in English) of the genera and species of plants inhabiting the 
country. Besides the collections formed by Dr. Hooker himself, ma- 
terials for this important work are derived from the British Museum 
and the Herbarium of Sir W.J. Hooker, and various other sources. 
The Mosses will be described by W. Wilson, Esq.; the Hepatice by W- 
Mitten, Esq.; the dige by Dr. Harvey; the Fungi by the Rev. M. J. 
Berkeley; and the Lichens by the Rev. C. Babington. 
