224 TIIK JOUHXAL OF liOIANV 



The work is a folio volume containing 54 plates, of which a list is 

 given, and a portrait of the author ; it was published in numbers, 

 each apparently containing six plates. Both title-pages — there is one 

 preceding the plates — are dated 1827, but this for the whole work is 

 manifestly incorrect : there are tAvo dedications, one to George IV., 

 the other to William IV. — from the latter it would appear that 

 Burgess held some official position, as he speaks of having ** trusted 

 to show that the office of landscape painter has not been idly bestowed 

 upon [his] Majesty's faithful and obedient servant." A notice by 

 James Main in Loudon's Mag. Nat. Hist. (ii. 52 ; March, 1829) 

 shows that 12 plates (two numbers) were then published ; Loudon 

 {A?'boretum, i, cxci) says that nos. 5 and 6 were published in 1833. 



It is in connection with these numbers that such botanical interest 

 as the work possesses will be found. Prefixed to the volume is an 

 essay extending over 26 folios, headed in very small capitals ** Botani- 

 cal Diversions I," followed by a large title " Amoenitates Querneae." 

 It includes a comprehensive account of the Oak in literature, history, 

 poetry, and commerce : there is however no indication as to its author- 

 ship, although it was evident that it was written by a competent 

 person and that Burgess had nothing to do with it beyond issuing it 

 with his book. Dr. Daydon Jackson in his useful Guide to the 

 Literature of Botany (1881) attributes it to Gilbert Burnett (1800- 

 35), but at this distance of time does not remember w^hence he 

 obtained this information ; this will however be found in the Arhorettim, 

 as already quoted, where it is stated to be " by the late Professor 

 Burnet " {sic). It is, as has been said, a very complete account : 

 Loudon (ojp. cit. iii. 1722) refers to it as "a very curious and elaborate 

 production — not so well known as it deserves to be ; the history of the 

 more celebrated Oaks is elaborated with much care, and the work 

 as a whole should be consulted by anyone who may be interested 

 in the subject.'' It may be noted tliat Burnett indicates various 

 names not taken up in the Index Kewensis and proposes (fol. 3) 

 three new ones for species alread}^ characterized : — 



" Q. navalis [vel pedunculata]. The Ship or Naval Oak 



** Q. regalis [vel sessiliflora]. The Royal or Bay Oak 



" Q. Homer [vel pubescens]. The red- wooded, durmast, or downy 



Oak, 



James Britten. 



SHORT NOTES. 



New Variety of Tolypella glomerata. In examining a 

 large number of specimens of Tolypella glomerata, we have come 

 across some plants which, in the more rounded shape and the red 

 colour of the oospore, exhibit a variation in the direction of T. nidi- 

 Jica. The decoration of the membrane is also somewhat intermediate 

 in character between the two species, frequently showing smooth 

 intervals between the granular lines. The points of diiference from 

 typical T. (jloinerata seem sufficient to justify the separation of the 

 plants referred to as a distinct variety for which we propose the 



