r904» Reviezvs. 299 



plants is suggested. On that hypothesis, it is difficult to account for 

 portions of the Irish distribution of these forms. In Achill Island, for 

 instance, where L. infermediufu is frequent, L. amplcxicatde- -on^ of the 

 hypothetical parents— is absent; and in Down and Antrim the former is 

 very much more abundant than the latter, and affects a different kind of 

 habitat. 



In conection with the Characice^ a curious feature of the Dublin flora 

 becomes conspicuous. This is the way in which the two canals which 

 enter Dublin from the west have served as routes by which plants native 

 in the Central Plain have migrated eastward, and formed colonies here. 

 These are ver}- properly classed as aliens in Dublin, though they may be 

 widely distributed natives of Ireland. 



The extent to which the county flora has been artificially or fallaciously 

 enriched by casual introductions or erroneous determinations is shown 

 by the bulk of the Appendix, in which over 250 plants are condemned 

 and executed. Here, as elsewhere, accuracy of detail and excellent dis- 

 crimination are the prevailing note. 



The map which terminates the volume does not maintain the high 

 standard of excellence which pervades the letterpress. It is a reprint, 

 with slight additions in the way of rail and tram lines, of the Dublin 

 map in Philip's ''Atlas and Geography of Ireland " of some twenty years 

 ago, and is not adequate or up-to-date. Thus, the North Bull, an island 

 over 3 miles in length — which i^ constantly mentioned in the text — does 

 not appear at all ; and the suburbs of Dublin are much changed since the 

 map was constructed. Throughout the county, a large proportion of the 

 places mentioned in the book are not named on the map. But as a key 

 to the botanical divisions, and an illustration of the general topography 

 of the county, it sers^es its purpose. 



In a supplement of fifteen pages, the local names which figure in the 

 book are re-arranged alphabetically, with notes. This interesting branch 

 of his subject Mr. Colgan has pursued with success, and his list, with its 

 philological and therapeutic notes, and quaint scraps of folk-lore, 

 furnishes evidence of close inquiry and of wide reading, and is a valuable 

 contribution to a subject as yet almost neglected in Ireland. 



As a natural result partly of its thoroughness and largely of the small- 

 ness of the clientele to which it appeals, the book is an expensive one. 

 We do not grumble at paying 125^. ^d. for it, for access to the store of 

 information which it contains would be cheap at double the price. But 

 without doubt its cost will place the Flora beyond the reach of many 

 who would have acquired a cheaper volume, and thus one of the ends 

 for which such labour is undertaken will be partially defeated. So long 

 as an intelligent interest in the plant-life of their own country is the 

 inheritance of so small a circle, we do not see how this can be avoided. 



R. Ivi,. P. 



