Ixxii 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



to have done little more than supply the world with so much waste 

 paper. Of DeCandolle's Prodi'omus itself, which is now a series 

 of monographs, a half-volume, comprising the genus Euphorbia, 

 has been recently published. The remainder of the order of 

 Euphorbiacese, one of the most extensive as well as the most varied 

 and complex m structure and affinities of the whole vegetable 

 kingdom, is now in the hands of M. J. Miiller of Geneva, who, 

 besides the special difficulties of the subject, Avill have to collate and 

 bring into concordance the works of two laborious and careful 

 observers of opposite tendencies — the late Dr. Klotzsch leaning to a 

 multiplication of technical genera, and M. BaUlon to the adoption 

 of theoretical genera without contrasted characters or systematic 

 arrangement. Laurinese, an order as difficult from the great simi- 

 larity of its genera and species as Euphorbiacese from their diversity, 

 are, I believe, nearly ready for press, from the experienced hands of 

 Prof. Meisner; and M. DeCandolle himself is working out the 

 Amentaceae. Among the orders not intended to be included in the 

 Prodromus, I must notice M. Weddell's valuable monograph of 

 Cynomorium, and the appearance of a third part of Dr. Boott's 

 beautiful Illustrations of the genus Oar ex. This important work, 

 which at great cost of time and money its distinguished author, in 

 every sense of the word, has presented to science, now brings down to 

 411 the number of species or marked varieties of this difficult genus, 

 whose characters are thus permanently fixed by detailed and accurate 

 delineations. Graminese, which have been thrown into so much con- 

 fusion by the so-called synopsis of Steudel, have been taken in hand 

 by several botanists ; but, whilst Dr. E. A. Eemy is indulging in 

 new systems founded upon insufficient investigations of detail, and 

 Dr. Ch. Miiller multiplies phytogeographical species, Col. Munro is 

 perhaps the only one who has devoted to them the care and research 

 necessary for a good monograph. As yet, however, he has published 

 but little beyond the Revision of the Grasses of the Linnean Herba- 

 rium, inserted in our own Journal. 



Another class of writings by which science may be advanced by the 

 descriptive naturalist comprises what are generally designated as 

 Faunas and Floras ; and these would claim admission into our own 

 publications, or encouragement as independent works, not only 

 according to their intrinsic merit, but according to the countries 

 they treat of. 



These Faunas and Floras have a twofold purpose to answer: — 

 1st, as guides to the beginner or amateur, to the travelling or 

 resident naturalist, in the determination and history of the animals 



