CRITICAL NOTICES OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 335 



produced, possessing the property of combustibility in an equal degree with 

 the best sperm oil, while the solid unctuous substance is applicable to the 

 manufacture of candles, and to other uses in which fatty matter is employed. 

 This discovery will probably be of considerable importance to the inhabi- 

 tants of Ceylon» where the cocoa-nut tree is cultivated in such abundance. 

 The utility of its oil adds to the valuable properties of this wonderful tree." 

 —p. 122. 



Dr. Duncan devotes a section to the consideration of vegetable 

 life in the polar regions, where the plants are few in number and 

 stunted in growth. The cryptogamic plants are, however, tolerably 

 abundant even in those desolate regions. These countries are still 

 by no means wanting in peculiarities interesting to the botanist : — 



" These bleak regions enjoy a precious boon in the plants which act as an 

 antidote to scurvy, and which defy the most severe cold of the arctic zone. 

 The Cochlearia, a thick-tufted juicy plant, of extreme fecundity, is emphati- 

 cally called scurvy-grass ; and different species of sorrel were found, by Cap- 

 tain Parry, flourishing under the snow, at the very furthest limit of vegeta- 

 tion."— p. 133. 



Some account is then given of a curious production supposed to 

 be a plant, and named Protoccecus nivalis, which has somewhat the 

 appearance of red snow, for which, indeed, it was mistaken by the 

 northern voyagers. It is rather remarkable that this plant has also 

 been found in Scotland and in the Alpine countries of Europe. 

 We have called this substance a plant, since it has been supposed to 

 consist of an assemblage of minute Alf^ae, but the fact is not well 

 ascertained. 



Our author devotes a chapter to the intellectual and moral facul- 

 ties of man, but here we must beg to be excused from following 

 him. As he is unacquainted with the science of Phrenology, it is 

 not surprising that he should have treated this subject less happily 

 and satisfactorily than many others. These two chapters might, 

 we think, very advantageously have been omitted, as they involve 

 nothing but speculation and hypothesis, where all might have been 

 as clear and precise as a problem in mathematics. 



We have only been able to select, here and there, a few paragraphs 

 from the volume, but we trust enough has been said to point out 

 the excellences, both in plan and execution, of the greater part of 

 this work. It is, in fact, a series of singular merit, and gives us a 

 highly favourable opinion of the talents of the reverend author. We 

 hope and believe it will meet the reception it so richly deserves. 



An Analysis of the British Ferns and their Allies, with Copper-plate 

 Engravings of every Species and Variety. By George W. Fran- 

 cis. London: Sirapkin & Co. 1837. pp.68. 



Our botanical readers will be well able to appreciate the value of 

 a synopsis of British Ferns, and therefore we shall only say that we 

 are perfectly satisfied with Mr. Francis's Analysis. The author 



