156 REVIEW—THE RHODODENDRONS OF SIKKIM-HIMALAYA. 
REVIEW. 
The Rhododendrons of Sikkim-Himalaya, being an Account, Bota- 
nical and Geographical, of the Rhododendrons recently discovered 
in the Mountains of Himalaya, Se. By J. D. Hooker, R.N., 
M.D., F.R.S., &e. Edited by Sir W. J. Hooxer, K.H., D.C.L., 
&ec. London: Reeve, Benham, and Reeve. 
Tuts splendid publication is in imperial folio, with superbly coloured 
figures of ten, out of the eleven species of Rhododendrons discovered, 
one not being in flower when found. 
It contains some prefatory remarks on the locality, and a historical 
sketch of the genus, with details on the distribution of these new plants, 
and descriptions accompanying the plates. It is really what the title 
of the work indicates, and executed in every particular most satisfac- 
tory. Every admirer of this noble race of plants should possess this 
very interesting publication. 
We give a few extracts, which will enable our readers to appreciate 
it, and possessing it we feel assured would be delighted with it. 
Dr. Hooker, now employed in a Government Botanical mission 
among the mountains of India, has discovered the species hereafter 
enumerated, and one of them is the noblest of all the tribe both in 
size, form, colouring,.or fragrance ; it is, too,an Epiphyte, that is, grows 
entirely on the trunks of trees, the roots running among the mosses or 
decayed parts of them, similar to most of our stove orchidee. [There 
are in this country five other Epiphytal species, so that we now have 
six of this class of Rhododendrons, which but a few years ago was not 
known to contain one.—Conpvuctor.] Of eleven species which Dr. 
Hooker obtained, nine were found to be previously unknown. to the 
botanists of this country. 
Darjeeling, the locality of the country in which these Rhododen- 
drons were found, lies, we are told, in the Sikkim portion of the Him- 
alaya; and is situated in lat. 27° N., and long. the same as Calcutta, 
from which it is distant about 380 miles. Its elevation above the sea 
is 7,200 feet. ‘The mean temperature of the year is about 55° Fabr. 
‘* The mountain Sinchul, upon a spur of which, looking north, Dar- 
jeeling stands, attains an elevation of 9,000 feet, and to the west of it, 
next Nepal, rises another conspicuous mountain, Tonglo, reaching a 
height of 10,000 feet. Due north of Darjeeling, at a distance of only 
60 miles, the horizon is bounded by the great snowy range, having for 
its principal feature the peak of Kinchin-junga, which has lately been 
ascertained to be 28,172 feet in elevation, the loftiest mountain yet 
known in the world. Dr. Hooker thus describes his first impressions 
of this seene:—‘ Much as I had heard and read of the magnificence 
and beauty of Himalayan scenery, my highest expectations have been 
surpassed! I arrived at Darjeeling on a rainy misty day, which did 
not allow me to see ten yards in any direction, much less to descry the 
snowy range, distant 60 miles in a straight line. Early next morning 
I caught my first view, and I literally held my breath in awe and ad- 
miration. Six or seven successive ranges of forest-clad mountains, as 
high as that whereon I stood (8,000 feet), intervened between me and 
a dazzling white pile of snow-clad mountains, among which the giant 
peak of Kinchin-junga rose 20,000 feet above the lofty point from 
