Art. IX.— The Mitscl and Repatlcce of the United States, East of the 

 Mississijipi Elver. Bij W. S. Sullivant New York: G. P. 

 Putnam. 1856. 



In a new counti-y, the Flowering Plants, (Phaenogamia') are the first 

 in the vegetable kingdom to receive the attention of Naturalists, as 

 well as the admiration of all. Their superior magnitude is most ob- 

 vious to the senses which their superior beauty first attracts. Con- 

 sequently, we have botanical works, on the flowering plants, in great 

 numbers, among the earliest of our scientific publications. But at 

 length, after every one has studied these plants, and new species are 

 no longer to be expected to reward the research of the ambitious 

 student, attention is turned towards objects more minute and more 

 novel — the humble Cryptogamia. To this point in our own literary 

 history we are fast arriving, and the work announced at the head of 

 this article is the worthy herald of this new class of botanical works. 

 We say neiv, in respect to America ; similar works have long since 

 been common in Grreat Britain, France and Gennany, describing the 

 Cryptogamic plants with wonderful exactness and fullness. 



The author of this work — W. S. Sullivant, of Columbus, 0. — has 

 already gained a world-wide fame as a muscologist by his numerous 

 contributions to this comparatively new department of American 

 science. The difficulties to be encountered in such investigations 

 are such as all pioneers in science experience, and none except such 

 can appreciate. Every step of progress is to be tested by the micro- 

 scope and established by the consent of all previous authority. — 

 With untiring patience and eminent sagacity our author has long 

 pursued his investigations in this neglected field of microscopic 

 beauties, until at length he gives us this volume, so ardently desired, 

 in which nearly five hundred species of our Mosses and Liverworts 

 are authentically described, and more than one hundred — one of 

 each genus — are minutely illustrated! As to the accuracy of the 

 delineations and descriptions, few of us are competent to judge, at 

 present; but many we think will be, speedily, having such an allur- 

 ing guide in the study of these interesting objects of natural hi^^tory. 



But what are the Musci, and Hepaticai? — their oflice, nature, 



uses ? On these points we shall venture a few statements in some 



future number. 



(34) 



