Dr. GoonENOUGH and Mr. WoodwARdV Obfervations^ ^c. 85 



their fubjedls in all ages, and an Ariftotle's defcription of the Cham^e- 

 leon will delineate this curious animal to the moft diftant period. 



Gmelin's general hiftory is clofed with chemical accounts, and 

 experiments made upon feveral of the Fuel. None of thefe mat- 

 ters need be retailed by us ; we only mention the fubjefts treated 

 of, and poflTibly may refer to fome few of them as we proceed. Our 

 more immediate bufinefs is with his method of arrangement; for 

 perhaps it would add fomething to the knowledge of a fubjeft, were 

 each fucceeding fyftematifl: to give his reafons, why he accedes to 

 fyftems eftabliflied before him, or why he leaves them. 



It is impoflible to follow Gmelin in his arrangement of eith erthe 

 genera of which he treats, or the orders under which he clalTes 

 them. In the firft place, becaufe there is, as muft be confeflfed, 

 great and almofl: total ignorance of the fructification of fubmarine 

 plants, he difcards all idea of taking any generic chara6ler from that 

 interefting circumftance. We think however, and hope when we 

 treat upon that point that we (hall iTiew, that there is fufficiently 

 apparent difference of charadter in the fruftification to accomplilli 

 all that we want, viz. generic charadlers for Fucus, Ulva^ and Con- 

 ferva. 



In confequence of rejecSling all idea of frudlification for his gene- 

 ric chara6ler, Gmelin has fallen into the greateft miftakes ; the 

 Linnaean genera, Fucus, Ulva, and 1'remella are all denominated 

 Fuci; and had he had time to have completed his defign, he would 

 have added to this group Byjfus and Conferva. 



He does not appear to us to be more happy In his difpofition of 

 the divifions of his genus. To conftitute thefe, he is perpetually 

 reforting to the fru6lification. In many inftances he does not at- 

 tempt any modification of charader, but actually gives as it were 

 new generic charaders to his divifions. In his divifion membranacet^ he 



fays. 



