KE VIEWS. 127 



u 2. The characters, structure, and, as far as possible, the natural history of the 

 genera and species of British animals and plants of microscopic dimensions, 

 together with a description of the microscopic organs and appendages of animals 

 and vegetables generally. 



"3. An account of the elementary tissues of two great kingdoms of organized 

 beings, with full information as to the methods to be pursued in this department. 



u 4. The distinguishing characters of the inorganic matters occurring in animal 

 and vegetable fluids." 



We need now only add, that this work will appear in monthly parts — 

 price half-a-crown each, and that it is proposed to be completed in about 

 12 parts, and will be illustrated with about forty plates. 



Botanical Letters to a Friend. By Dr. F. Unger. (Translated by 

 Dr. B. Paul.) Pp. 116. 8vo. London : Samuel Highley. Price 5s. 



These very attractive letters which are now issued in an English dress, as 

 part of " Highley's Library of Science and Art," will, doubtless, be gladly 

 hailed by many w T ho could only be acquainted with them through the 

 medium of a translation. Their author is already well known as the 

 founder of a natural system of Fossil Plants, published in Endlicher's 

 Genera Plantarum. 



Though, we confess, they bear but too evident traces of being a trans- 

 lation, they are, nevertheless, pleasingly written, and form a most welcome 

 addition to our stock of botanical text books. The views advanced are 

 stated with a simplicity and clearness not often to be found in writers of 

 the school to which Dr. Unger belongs, and, while some of the theories 

 propounded will meet with but little favour from many British botanists, 

 still a statement of them put forward in a popular form will be thankfully 

 received. It was our intention to have presented our readers with a few 

 extracts from the concluding letters which are most suggestive, but we 

 refrain from a conviction of how disjointed any extract from a letter 

 must necessarily appear to those who are unacquainted with the original. 

 We would, however, refer them to the sketches of the " Plant-world" as 

 contained in the 15th and 16th letters ; here it is viewed under the heads 

 of " Local Distribution" and " Chronological Aspect" as deserving of an 

 attentive perusal, and likely to afford matters for reflection even to those 

 who are disposed to question the views which are contained in them. The 

 work is neatly brought out, and the wood cuts, which are numerous, 

 greatly enhance its value to the student, from the strict accuracy of their 

 details. Considerable praise is due to the exertions of the publisher of the 

 series of which this forms a portion; and we will be much surprised if it does 

 not meet with considerable support, if conducted at all equal to Dr. Unger's 

 Botanical Letters, which we gladly recommend to our botanical readers. 



