60 REVIEWS. 



similar fossil plants at places so widely differing in latitude, and hence in climate, 

 is, in the present state of our knowledge, rather an argument against than for 

 their having existed contemporaneously. The cycadece especially, whose fossil 

 remains afford so much ground for geological speculations, are far from yielding 

 such precise data as is supposed. Species of the order are found in Mexico, South 

 Africa, Australia, and India, some inhahiting the hottest and dampest, and others 

 the driest climates on the surface of the globe ; and it appears to me rash to argue 

 much from the coal of Yorkshire and of India, when we reflect that the geologist of 

 some future epoch may find as good reasons for referring the present Cape, Austra- 

 lian, or Mexican flora to the same period as that of the lias and oolites, when the 

 cycadece, now living in the former countries, comes to he fossilized. 



M Specific identity of their contained fossils may be regarded as fair evidence of 

 the contemporaneous origin of beds, but among the many collections of fossil plants 

 that I have examined, there is hardly a specimen, belonging to any epoch, suffi- 

 ciently perfect to warrant the assumption that the species to which it belonged can be 

 again recognised. The botanical evidences which geologists too often accept as 

 proofs of specific identity, are such as no botanist would attach any importance 

 to in the investigation of existing plants. The faintest traces assumed to be of 

 vegetable origin are habitually made into genera and species by naturalists ignorant 

 of structure, affinities, and distribution of living plants; and of such materials the 

 bulk of so-called systems of fossil plants is composed." 



We would glady accompany our author through each step of his route, 

 culling a flower here and there to present to our readers, but such a 

 course would not be just. We can gather but an occasional bud, and trust 

 that they will tempt many to read with the care they so well merit these 

 most suggestive volumes. We had marked the account of Dr. Hooker's 

 interview w r ith Lieutenant Ward, one of the suppressors of Thuggee, " who 

 kindly showed him the approvers, or king's evidence, of his establishment, 

 belonging to those three classes of human scourges — " Thug, Dakoit, and 

 Poisoner." We refrain from following our first intention, partly from the 

 conviction that these passages will be transferred into most notices of the 

 work, and partly because, though most curious, it does not, strictly 

 speaking, fall within our province as a Natural History Eeview. In 

 order, however, to give some idea of the extent to which Thuggee prevails, 

 we may mention that — 



" Major Sleeman has constructed a map, demonstrating the number of ' bails,' 

 or regular stations for committing murder, in the kingdom of Oude alone, which is 

 170 miles long by 100 broad, and in which are 274, which are regarded by the 

 Thug with as much satisfaction and interest as a game preserve in England. Nor 

 are there ' bails ' less numerous in other parts of India. Of twenty assassins who 

 were examined, one frankly confessed to have been engaged in 931 murders, and 

 the least guilty of the number to 24." 



The details of the entire system, so often, though superficially, noticed in 

 works on India, is here ably condensed, and will, no doubt, be read with 

 interest by all who have the good fortune to meet with the " Himalayan 

 Journals." 



In the month of March, Dr. Hooker reached Patna, where he took up 

 his residence with Dr. Irvine, an old acquaintance and botanist ; here his 



