66 Retrospective Criticism, 



the valves with a broad wing, circumscribed by a nerve. Seeds 

 numerous, not striated. 



Sec. 5. Pterotropis. — Silicle somewhat obovate, with a broad recess, or 

 truncate ; back of the valves with a wing not circumscribed by a nerve. 

 Seeds not striated. 



Hutchinsza is divided into 



Sec. 1. /beridella. — Style filiform. Leaves entire or toothed. Flowers 

 purplish, resembling those of an /beris. 



Sec. 2. iVasturtiolum. — Leaves pinnate, lobed. Flowers small, white, 

 like those of Draba and Teesdalia. 



Teesdal/a and Platyspermum have no sections, or, rather, 

 each contains only one. 



According to the plan proposed by Mr. Newman, the above 

 sections must, I presume, be formed into genera, and the 

 genera themselves will become families ; therefore the two 

 (TeesdahVx and Platyspermum), which have only one section, 

 must have new names invented, to mark the difference between 

 the family and the genus. I cannot see what additional 

 advantage would result from this plan, to compensate for load- 

 ing the memory with additional terms. 



In speaking of a plant, the generic and specific names alone 

 are used ; the sectional one being only employed in descrip- 

 tion, to avoid repeating the same character in numerous spe- 

 cies, or to communicate a general idea of a plant without 

 giving a detailed description. This plan, of named genera 

 and sections, has been partially adopted in entomology. See 

 the genus Colymbetes, in which the generic character depends 

 chiefly on the formation of the mouth, and the sectional upon 

 that of the legs. — Charles C, Babingto7t, M. A., F.L.S., &c. 



3Ir, Audubon and his Work, the Biograjyhy of Birds, (VI. 

 550.) — One glance more at testimonies relative to Mr. Au- 

 dubon's claim to the authorship of the Biography of Birds. 



" I have read Mr. Audubon's original manuscripts, and I 

 have read Mr. Waterton's original manuscripts ; and both 

 before they were published.* I think the English of the one 

 is as good as the English of the other." [W, Swainson, 

 in VI. 550.) 



" Mr. Audubon is the son of French parents. He was 

 educated in France till the age of seventeen. At that time he 

 could not speak the English language. It cannot, therefore, 

 be the least disparagement to Mr. Audubon, if, when he had a 

 valuable work to publish in English, he should wish to receive 



* Mr. Mawman, who published the Wanderings, was bound down not to 

 make any alterations in the Wanderings. 



