Bibliographical Notices. 441 



possible to learn from his book what are really the species that inhabit 

 the border country. 



Bubus. Under this heading some very interesting and valuable 

 remarks upon the so-called species of that intricate genus are given. 

 The following is the list of species found in the district: — 



R. idseus, R. carpinifolius, 



R. pHcatus, R. leucostachys, 



R. nitidus, R. rudis, 



R. corylifolius, R. radula, 



R. macrophyllus, R. Koehleri, 



R. cordifolius, R. csesius. 



R. mucronatus. 

 These plants are more or less fully described, and the remarks 

 upon them will doubtless greatly assist the student. 



K. cort/UfoHus is stated to be " apparently different" from that of 

 Mr. Babington. We think that it accords with the var. purpureus 

 of that botanist. 



R. cordifolius. This is distinguished from jB. rhamnifolius, but we 

 have neither time nor space to enter into a discussion of the correct- 

 ness of that opinion here. 



Ribes rubrum. Dr. Johnston considers that the Gooseberry and 

 Red Currant are indigenous in England, and refers to the late Dr. 

 Bromfield's elaborate remarks on the subject (Phytol. iii. 377) as 

 conclusively supporting their claims. Our author thinks that many 

 plants which are looked upon as doubtful natives, owing to their 

 very local distribution, or their presence now solely in hedgerows or 

 thickets, are aboriginal inhabitants of our country, having once been 

 much more plentiful, but become confined to the few wild spots or 

 artificial localities which they now inhabit by the destruction of the 

 primaeval woods. We agree with him in believing that we may carry 

 our scepticism much too far in this matter ; and that many of our 

 hedge-plants which have recently been stigmatized as " aliens " are 

 more truly native than several of those which are universally recog- 

 nized as such. However wise it may be to be cautious in admitting 

 the indigenous character of newly-observed plants or of those inha- 

 biting arable land — and wise it certainly is — we should be especially 

 cautious not to allow our doubts to carry us too far. We would 

 direct attention to Dr. Johnston's remarks on this subject (pages 53, 

 84, 139). 



Hieracium. A rather full account is given of the species belonging 

 to this ill-understood genus which occur in the district. It does not 

 seem to us to be of nearly so much value as the remarks upon the 

 Rubi, but will require to be carefully studied by those who are en- 

 deavouring to determine the value of the numerous forms presented 

 to our notice by the British Hawk weeds. 



At the end of the list of Compositse we are favoured with a very 

 curious discussion of the question, "What is the Scotch Thistle?" 

 The answer given by Dr. Johnston is that " the evidence seems 

 greatly to strengthen our belief that Carduus Marianus was the chosen 

 emblem of the national pride and character." 



