THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 78 



jjupers reprinted from vriridiis British magazines. As might 

 he expected from one of Canon Vaiighan's eminence, the es- 

 says are not simply recitations of collecting experiences, but 

 rise to the dignity of good literature in which even the general 

 reader finds much of interest. In the first paper, which gives 

 title to the book, and is based on the statement of Dr. Arnold 

 of Rugby that "Wildflowers are my music," one discovers that 

 many Englishmen, noted in very different walks of life, have 

 been ardent botanists. The list includes Dr. Arnold, John 

 Stuart Mill, the poet Clare, Matthew Arnold, Charles Kings- 

 ley, George Grahbe. Gray of the "Elegy," and Alfred' Tenny- 

 son. Crabl)e, in fact, wrote a work on botanv but because the 

 \'ice-master of Trinity College could not tolerate the idea of 

 "degrading the science of botany by treating it in a modern 

 language" Crabhc threw it into the fire. A majoritv of the 

 essays are' concerned with the flora of Suffolk, the country of 

 Gilbert White of "Selbourne" fame and of Izaak Walton the 

 Angler. Two papers "On Selborne Common" and "Where 

 Izaak Walton Died" ])lace these worthies in a new light. 

 W^'dton, in fact, tiled in the Cathedral Close at Winchester. 

 As a general thing, ICnglish essays dealing with out-door sub- 

 jects have more style and finish and more literary excellence, 

 than we commonly find in American writings of like nature 

 and the present xolunie is a good illustration of the fact. It is 

 pul)li^lled ])y Iv P. Dutton & Co., 681 Fifth Ave. N. Y., 



