73 



advantageously given in all systematic works, for although, 

 as it is said, " tliey do not [necessarily] represent natural 

 affinities and relationships, but are a purely artificial con- 

 trivance," yet they are undoubtedly calculated " to save 

 time and somewhat wearisome labour to the inexperienced 

 student/' 



The introduction concludes with an account of the system 

 of natural classification adopted by the author, in which a 

 very fair and interesting summary of the history of this 

 department of knowledge will be found. As in the case of 

 all truly natural systems, the mere perusal of these observa- 

 tions will serve to convey a very good knowledge, not only 

 of the mutual relations of the various families and genera, 

 but also of their structure. Up»on this part of his task Mr. 

 Hincks has bestowed great pains, and has, as we think, 

 arrived at very satisfactory conclusions, or at least at a clas- 

 sification as satisfactory as the present state of our knowledge 

 will allow to be formed. 



In comparing the extent of the present work with that of 

 Dr. Johnston's, it should have been added, that whilst the 

 latter is content with twenty-nine plates, the former presents 

 us with no less than sixty-seven, besides innumerable wood- 

 cuts. Of the execution of these plates, and their fidelity to 

 nature, it is impossible to speak too highly ; but as regards 

 them there is one point upon which we are compelled to 

 remark, with much regret, that in the small-paper copies, 

 which, we presume, constitute the bulk of the issue, the 

 impressions, for some reason or another, are not at all eqrral 

 to those in the large-paper copies. For the credit of the 

 publisher this should have been avoided, both in justice to 

 the artist and the purchaser. 



G. B. 



