NOTICES OF BOOKS. 157 



stated to be a native of Abyssinia, Central Africa, and Angola ; it 

 possesses several varieties in the size, shape, and colour of the 

 berries. — " On the species of Narcissus,''^ by Shirley Hibberd. This 

 paper professed to revise the genus on new principles, and proposed 

 sweeping changes of nomenclature in defiance of bot:anical rules. — 

 Mr. Thiselton Dyer exhibited specimens of Latakia Tobacco, which has 

 hitherto been considered to be the produce of Nicotiana rustica. By 

 soaking out the constituent parts it was found to consist of the upper 

 part, inflorescence, and young capsules of a form of N. Tabacmn. The 

 peculiar flavour is given to this Tobacco by the smoke of the wood 

 of Pintis halepensis, in which it is suspended for some months. — 

 " Contributions to the botany of the Challe ger ; Algae, chiefly 

 Polynesian," by Prof. Dickie. — " On the Freshwater Algse collected 

 in Kerguelen Island by the Eev. A. E. Eaton," by Dr. Reinsh. 



I^oticc^ of 2B>ooh!Sf. 



Science Primera — Botany. By J. D. Hookee, C.B., P.R.S., with 

 (68) illustrations. London: Maemillan. 1876. (pp. 117, 

 12mo.) 



The object of this little book as given in the preface is to afford not only 

 an elementary knowledge of the principal facts of plant-life, but also the 

 means of training beginners in the methodical and accurate observa- 

 tion of plants. This latter purpose, of course, necessitates a supply 

 of specimens, and Dr. Hooker recommends that the more common and 

 easily cultivated plants (of which he gives a list) should be grown in 

 school gardens and arranged there systematically, and also that the 

 teacher should have a copious supply of dried flowers, &c., for 

 dissection by the pupils, when fresh specimens cannot be procured. 



Among the numerous elementary books on Botany, the present is 

 likely to occupy a prominent place, as the eminence of its author will 

 cause it to be recognised everywhere among school-teachers as — so far 

 as it goes — an authoritative exposition of the subject. 



There is nothing special in the arrangement of the matter. We 

 have an introductory chapter on the nature of plants, and a short 

 iiccount of tissues and cell-growth, and the food of plants; the study 

 of the Phanerogams is commenced by examining the growing seed, 

 and the various o.rgans are then taken in their usual order ; there are 

 chapters on fertilisation and on the characters of Gymnosperms ; 

 and the subject is concluded by an explanation of the principles of 

 classification, and an account of a few simple physiological experi- 

 ments. All notice of the Cryptogams is excluded In the treatment 

 of the material great skill in condensation is shown, and a great many 

 subjects are touched upon which rarely appear in so completely 

 elementary a text-book ; indeed brevity could scarcely be carried 

 further than here. In spite of this the author has generally secured 

 clearness, and his literary ability has enabled him to render the con- 

 densed record smooth and even pleasant reading. 



It is a pity to be obliged to add that signs of haste are evi- 

 dent, and it is specially to be regretted that a little more time and 



