198 NOTICES OF BOQKS. 
procure the first Fasciculus or to learn the nature of its contents. 
From the portion before us, it appears intended to publish in - 
succession a Synopsis with, not unfrequently, full descriptions of 
all the genera and species in each respective order. This would be 
well, even though the work should be a compilation ; for every 
one must feel the desirableness of having the numerous genera 
and species now scattered through a multitude of Floras, Transac- 
tions, Journals, &c., collected into one complete Catalogue :—and the 
obligation to the author would be greater, if he would commence with 
sueh Orders as most need to have their scattered members so collec- 
ted, those in fact that have least occupied the attention of systematie l 
botanists as a whole ;—the Monocotyledones, Achlamydeæ, to say nothing 
of the Acotyledones, What the first Fasciculus may contain, as before 
said, we do not know: the second is devoted to the Peponifere 
(Cucurbitacee and Passifloree) ; the third to Rosiflore, Fam. I., Amyg- 
dalacee, and 11. Pomacee ; and the fourth fasciculus to Hxsate, Fam. I. 
Amaryllidee. Now, the labours of De Candolle and of Walpers have 
brought together pretty well the so-called Peponifere and the Rosacea ; 
and the Amaryllidee here are, as may be expected, very much a trans- 
cript of Mr. Herbert’s work on that family. The author goes all 
lengths in the establishment of genera, making groups of species, 
or subgenera of those botanists who have most studied the family, 
to stand as actual genera: while, instead of giving what are usually 
called specific characters, the individual species sought is arrived at 
by a system extremely puzzling to those unaccustomed to such à 
hod. | 
metho : 
As a specimen of the work we may observe that under Pyrus, by 
means of an analysis of five divisions, we come to Pyrus communis, L.: 
another division brings us to Pyrus Achras, Reh., which latter is accom- 
panied by the observation “ex hisce duabus speciebus orta est" (and 
then he goes on to enumerate and characterize) fourteeu pages closely 
printed of varieties ! 
It does not appear that the work has proceeded beyond the fourth 
fasciculus; nor ean we wonder if it am not been patronized by the 
botanical publie. The same degree of industry, better ciani -a 
have produced a book that apy not fail to be acceptab 
botanists. 
