4S0 Bibliographical Notices, 



tribution ; their distribution on our own coasts ; and their general 

 history. To use the author's words : — *' The plan which I have 

 adopted is, to select the species illustrated in each number from 

 several different genera, taken from as many families, so that there 

 shall always be a variety of subjects in the monthly number ; and, 

 as early in the work as possible, to figure one species at least of every 

 genus, so that by the end of the twentieth number, which will com- 

 plete the first volume, illustrations of all the genera may be placed 

 before the student. This, with the aid of the descriptions of species 

 and sketch of a general arrangement afforded by the * Manual ' * 

 (which may serve as a synopsis of the principal contents of the 



* Phycologia'), will afford him very great facilities for determining 

 his plants during the progress of this work, even though the parti- 

 cular species which he has under examination may not be among 

 those then figured in it. Were the plants to be published syste- 

 matically, it is obvious that not till the completion of the entire work 

 would the student have as much assistance toward understanding 

 the genera, as he will now have at the end of the first volume. This 

 arrangement is therefore decidedly the best for those who have pur- 

 chased the ' Manual,' and as it appears to me, for those also, who, 

 now commencing the study of Algology, wish to obtain speedily a 

 general view of the principal varieties of marine plants." 



Sixty numbers will complete the work, five of which are now be- 

 fore us, and we question whether a more beautiful botanical work, 

 plates and typography combined, has ever issued from the press, — at 

 so low a price we feel certain that none has. In these five numbers 

 appear species altogether new (Griffithsia devoniensis, Elachistea 

 attenuata) ; some before known in other seas, but now for the first 

 time added to our flora (Chordaria divaricata) ; and several species 

 figured for the first time. 



So favourably is Mr. Harvey known to the botanical world as an 

 algologist, that to speak of his excellent treatment of the subject in 

 all its bearings, as known to the present time, seems to us superfluous. 

 We say advisedly as known to the present time, for sufficient atten- 

 tion has not hitherto been paid to the general oeconomy of the Algae. 

 A knowledge of the peculiar rocks, soils, &c. affected by the various 

 species ; the ranges of depth, influence of currents and tides, not only 

 on their presence, but on their growth, rendering them dwarfed or 

 luxuriant according to circumstances, have not, at least in our own 

 country, been properly studied. These causes have a much more im- 

 portant bearing on Algae than a mere difference of latitude. We trust 

 therefore that the author will throughout his work afford us all the 

 information he can obtain on these interesting points — in natural hi- 

 story every positive observation is of value. We have ourselves at- 

 tended to some extent to what is here suggested, and have been much 

 interested to find upon coasts of similar mineralogical and geological 

 character, though separated by several degrees of latitude, the same 

 broad botanical features ; indeed, the mere appearance of a particular 



* Manual of British Algae, by the same author, published a few years ago. 



