THE LONDON CATALOGUE OF BRITrsiI PLANTS. 187 



7 varieties ; Mr. Marshall is sponsor for one of each, Mr. Beeby for 

 a species , and Mr. Purchas for a variety. If to these we add the 

 numerous Backhousian species, we shall be justified in claiming for 

 English botanists a due recognition of persevering industry. 



It would ill become us to speak disparagingly of these species of 

 Hicracium. Mr. Hanbury has made a careful study of them, both 

 in the field and under cultivation, for many years, and our best 

 critical botanists combine to swell the list. Moreover, we remember 

 the severe reproof administered by Mr. Beeby,* and later by Mr. 

 Marshall, I to those who ventured to speak disrespectfully of these 

 plants in an earlier stage of the development of the list ; nor can 

 we repudiate our own share (whether of praise or blame) in intro- 

 ducing them to the world, for a large number — perhaps most of 

 them — have seen the light in the pages of this Journal. Yet it is 

 impossible to avoid a suspicion that a considerable reduction will 

 one day take place in the number of forms considered distinct. 

 The new creations are sometimes treated by their maker with as 

 scant ceremony as Queen Elizabeth manifested towards her bishops. 

 In Mr. Hanbury's " Tentative List," for example, which was issued 

 with this Journal for last August, we find " H . LinUmi F. J. Hanb." 

 with the remark appended, " See accompanying notes." But when 

 we carry out the direction, we find " H. Lintoni is for the present 

 withdrawn,"! nor has it yet reappeared. No one would wish to 

 disparage careful observation and study of closely allied forms in 

 critical genera, but it may be permitted to doubt whether some 

 reticence might not be observed in their publication. 



"We have not space to enter upon the consideration of the 

 revised lists of Eubus and Bosa (by Mr. Moyle Kogers), and the 

 former has already been commented upon by its reviser in this 

 Journal. § Of S'div two arrangements are given, one drawn up by 

 Dr. Buchanan White, the other by the Rev. E. F. Linton. Mr. 

 Arthur Bennett has revised Pntanwiirtun ?i,\\A Carex ; Mr. Marshall 

 has undertaken Kpilobiwn, which now boasts 12 species and 33 

 hybrids, and has made suggestions on the Festucas : we note with 

 some amusement that Festuca hrterophyUa, whose claims to nativity 

 Mr. Marshall defended with some warmth in our pages, || is printed 

 in italics as an "evident introduction." The Messrs. Groves have 

 revised the CharacecB and Batracldum ; Mr. Beeby is responsible for 

 Viola, in which a good many changes occur, but not, we understand, 

 for Junms, which is credited to him, and which contains one of the 

 very few misprints — "obtusifolius" for "obtusiflorus" — which we 

 have noted. Other botanists have contributed notes and suggestions, 

 many of which have been adopted. 



Certain necessary alterations in nomenclature have been made, 

 of which the following are the more noteworthy changes of genera; 

 the additions of the dates of publication will show the grounds on 

 which these have been made : — 



* Journ. Bot. 1893, 66. f Id. 1894, 290. t Id. 227. 



§ Id. 1895, 45, 77, 100. \\ Id. 1889, 249 1890, 47. 



