BOTANICAL INFOUM ATION. 293 



worthy of still higher praise, inasmuch as it has been pub- 

 lished under more favourable circumstances; one of the 

 authors (Dr Gray) having since the appearance of the first 

 two portions, made a very extensive tour in Europe, for the 

 purpose of examining the various herbaria which can throw 

 light on the species already published by different authors ; 

 and we can bear ample testimony to the great energy, 

 untired patience, and distinguished talent which the authors 

 have employed (both Dr Torrey and Dr Gi*ay, each in his 

 respective visit) in unravelling confused synonyms, and in 

 clearing up doubtful species. Thus, as shown in the preface, 

 besides the numerous authentic specimens largely contributed 

 by travellers and botanists from all quarters, these able natu- 

 ralists have carefully examined the treasures in the herbaria 

 which formed the ground-work of Hooker's Flora Boreali- 

 Americana, and Hooker and Arnott's Botany of Captain 

 Beechei/s Voijages, and the fine collections made by Mr 

 Drummond in Texas. Under the auspices of Mr Brown, 

 the Banksian Herbarium, and tlie Herbaria of Clayton, 

 Catesby, Plukenet, &c., were thrown open to them ; as were 

 also the very complete collections of the late Mr Douglas, 

 deposited in the Horticultural Society's Museum, and tliat 

 of Mr Bentham and Dr Lindley. The Linntean Herba- 

 rium was examined; that of Pursh, of Bradbury, and of Nut- 

 tall, in Mr Lambert's possession ; and that of Walter, the 

 property of Mr Eraser. In France, the plants of Lamarck 

 and Poiret were identified in the collections of Prof. Adrien 

 de Jussieu, and of his distinguished father; those of Michaux, 

 in the Museum of the Jardin des Plantes. The readiest 

 access was grantetl to the rich and varied stores in the Baron 

 Benjamin Delessert's immense Herbarium, and to those of 

 P. B. Webb, Esq., which includes the Herbarium and nume- 

 rous American plants of Desfontaines, while Mr Spach sup- 

 plied specimens of dubious or interesting American plants 

 which had long been cultivated in the Botanic Gardens of 

 Paris. Dr Gray has carefully gone through all the families 

 that were published in the Prodr. Sysf. Veget,, as far as they 



