50 Bihliographical Notices. 



work has been elaborated, it must be carefully and constantly studied. 

 We doubt not but that it will very speedily find its way (as it richly 

 merits) into the hands of all true lovers of botany, and by them will 

 assuredly be hailed as a successful attempt to display and enumerate 

 the present state of our flora, and to estabhsh it, for the first time, on 

 a scientific equality with the advanced state of continental botany. 



The Geographical Distribution of British Plants. By H. C. Watson, 

 Part I. London, 1843. 8vo. Printed for the Author. 



We feel much sorrow in having to inform our readers that this 

 valuable work is not published, and must express our surprise at the 

 reason ; viz. the size to which it is expected to extend and the un- 

 certainty of completion, since each portion is perfect in itself ; and 

 also our admiration of the author's great liberality in adopting so 

 disinterested a plan. It is however to be hoped that he may be in- 

 duced to alter his views and allow of its sale, since there must be 

 many persons, to whom it cannot otherwise be attainable, who would 

 highly appreciate its value. The part now before us contains the 

 Orders RanunculacetB, Nymphceacece and Papaveracece. A general ac- 

 count of the distribution of each order throughout the world is first 

 given, illustrated by very full comparative numerical tables : each 

 species is then taken separately ; its presence in one or more of the 

 eighteen districts into w^hicli the author has divided Great Britain 

 (for Ireland is excluded from want of data) is stated ; a list of the local 

 floras and catalogues in which it is included and of the places from 

 which Mr. Watson has seen specimens follows, which is succeeded by 

 a detailed account of its distribution in this country and other parts 

 of the world ; and the account of the species is concluded by a full 

 list of the localities in which, on trustworthy authority, it is known 

 to have been found. At the head of the account of each species two 

 woodcuts are introduced, one of them being a small representation of 

 the map of Great Britain divided into the author's eighteen districts, 

 the other a diagram representing the relative heights to which the 

 most elevated parts of each district attain. In both of these cuts its 

 number is introduced into each of those districts in which the plant 

 has been found, but is omitted in the others. 



We have carefully examined many parts of the volume, and are 

 much pleased to add our testimony to the great accuracy which is 

 apparent in it, and consider it as a highly valuable contribution to 

 British botany. 



A History of British Forest Trees indigenous and introduced. 

 By P. J. Selby, F.L.S. &c. 1 vol. 8vo, London, 1842. 



We wish to call the attention of our readers to the above work. In 

 it will be found very full accounts of all the trees which are usually 

 planted for profit, and many which belong more peculiarly to the 

 ornamental class. Each tree is illustrated by a beautiful woodcut 

 of a full-grown specimen, and several others to exhibit the mode of 

 branching, the leaves, or the botanical characters. The author's well- 



