NEW PUBLICATIONS. 95 
The Key is succeeded by an enumeratioii of the different families and 
species ; genera are omitted, because " tbey can only be learned from 
the contemplation of manv species of a genus. A very large number 
of our British genera contain only one native species each, so that 
there is nothing for the student to compare and collate. What may 
be the limits of the genera in some of the largest and most important 
families, is subject, moreover, to great diversity of opinion, and, while 
the magnates dispute, the simple student had better wait, and look to 
families and species." We do not think the autlior was wise in omit- 
ting the genus on this plea. Those who teach any science, however 
elementary, should never lose sight of the necessity of instilling general 
principles. One of the reasons why there are so many who have been 
studying botany all their lives, and never got beyond the alphabet, is 
owins to their learnino; noihinsc but drv and unconnected details. At 
most they never progress beyond species-botany of their immediate 
neighbourhood, and the greatest discoveries in our science are received 
by them with the most perfect indifference. The gulf which separates 
this evidently large class from the more philosophical botanists, who 
eagerly follow all that our best minds bring forward, is so great, that 
those who in any way could help to bridge it over would be doing 
really good service. 
On the whole. Air. Grindon's book will satisfy the .wants of popular 
readers. He has made many scientific facts accessible to the masses, 
and will probably see reason to introduce corrections and additions in 
a subsequent edition. 
The Vegetation of tJte ChatJiam Inlands. Sketched by F. Mueller, 
Ph.D., etc. By authority. Melbourne : 1864. 8vo, 86 pp. 
The Chatham Islands, south of New Zealand, have recently been 
explored botanically by Mr, Henry Travers, of Canterbury, New Zea- 
land, whose father generously defrayed the expenses of the expedition, 
an account of which was some weeks ago read before the Linnean So- 
ciety, of London, In the volume before us, Dr. Mueller has given us 
an enumeration of the most complete sets of the plants collected on this 
occasion, together with all tliat was previously known of the flora, as far 
as Phanerogams and Ferns are concerned. But we regret that he did 
not postpone the publication a few weeks, until Dr. Hooker's * Hand- 
book of the New Zealand Flora' should liave reached him, in which 
