NOTICES OF BOOKS. 247 



or both, occur, and probably Scleranthus a^muus, Valertafia ofUcinalis^ 

 Juncm conglomerattiSj Aira Jlexuosa, &c. Can Campanula rotundifolia 

 really be absent, and does not Bromiis erectus grow on the downs ? 

 The absences in a flora are frequently very significant, and a striking 

 feature in this one is the want apparently on the shore of many of 

 our most common coast species, as CaJcile, Honkeneya peploidesy 

 Eryngium maritimum^ Salsola, and the coast Triticums and Pestucas ; 

 a few of these appear to have been formerly found, but to have become 

 lost from changes in the shore. 



It may be noted as a good feature in this Flora that the special 

 habitat and degree of rarity or commonness refer to each species as an 

 inhabitant of the district. But why do the grades of nativity refer 

 to the whole of England, and why is not the period of flowering given^ 

 as well as any local names in vogue ? It cannot be too often repeated* 

 that a local Flora should deal with plants simply in relation to the 

 district. The distribution through adjacent counties, Hants, Surrey, 

 and Kent, is very useful, but the occurrence or absence in West Sussex 

 should also have been shown. *' Critical " botany scarcely shows itself ; 

 there is evidently plenty of work for Eastbourne botanists in Ranun- 

 culus, Rosa, Rubus, Atriplex, Rumex, CaUitriche, Potamogeton, &c. 

 Fumaria confusa, Chenopodium urhicum, Carex Boenninghauseniana, 

 and Ceratophyllum suhmersum are included. A point of distribution 

 worth notice is the occurrence in East Sussex of several western 

 plants, which reach here their eastern limit in England ; Bupleurum 

 aristatum, Sihthorpia europcea, and Bartsia viscosa are examples. JPhy- 

 teuma spicatutn is restricted in Great Britain to East Sussex. 



The Cryptogams are not included, but full lists of them as far as 

 known up to the end of 1873 have been published by the ]S"atural 

 History Society. The author gives in the appendix lists of the 

 mosses and lichens for the district in his own herbarium. 



Praise must be given to the arrangement of the material and typo- 

 graphy, which are most satisfactory and conducive to easy reference. 

 These are matters too often left to take care of themselves, and good 

 Floras have been much lessened in usefulness in consequence of the 

 confusion and obscurity which have resulted. Some slips have crept in 

 {Hypericum for Epilohium, on p. 151), but the Eastbourne Flora may 

 be placed among the best of its class for arrangement, clearness, and 

 accuracy, and worthily fills the position designed for it by its 

 author. H. T. 



The Narcissus: its History and Culture, with coloured plates and 

 descriptions of all known species and principal varieties. By 

 F. W. BuEBiDGE. To which is added, by kind permission, a 

 Scientific Review of the Entire Genus, by J. G. Baker, F.L.S. 

 of the Royal Herbarium, Kew. 8vo., p. 95 ; with 48 coloured 

 plates. L. Reeve and Co. 



With the April dafi'odils this year came opportunely to all lovers 

 of these beautiful flowers Mr. Burbidge's most useful book. 



It contains forty-four octavo coloured plates of all known species, 

 principal varieties and garden forms of Narcissus. These are care- 

 fully and faithfully drawn and coloured by Mr. Burbidge himself, 



