404 Bibliographical Notices, 



That we have devoted so mucli space to the consideration of the 

 portion of Professor Phillips's work from which the ahove extracts 

 are taken, is due to the fact that, although the immediate consider- 

 ation of tlie doctrine of evolution of species occupies but a small 

 space in the book, the section devoted to it really contains the 

 sum and point of the whole volume ; and considering that the 

 Darwinian chariot has been accompanied on its course by such 

 shouts of triumph from the supporters of the theory contained in 

 it, it may be some consolation to the more sober-minded of our 

 readers to learn that one at least of our naturalists, and that one 

 not less conspicuous for his extensive and accurate knowledge of the 

 various subjects bearing on this theory, than for the care with which 

 he has always avoided committing himself by the emission of crude 

 opinions, does not hesitate to come forward in support of those old- 

 established views which it is the object of the evolutionists to cast 

 down. He does not profess to put forward any novel theories, but 

 simply endeavours to illustrate, by means of carefully prepared 

 tables, what has been the real sequence of the appearance of different 

 animal forms, and to show the bearing of the facts thus established 

 upon the various theories of the origin and succession of life upon 

 the earth. He adopts the notion of type in its ordinary signification 

 and in the fullest sense ; he maintains the theory of independent 

 centres of creation ; and discusses, with a clearness scarcely to be 

 expected in a work of such brevity, those important questions in 

 physical geology connected with the change of climate which must 

 have taken place during the lapse of ages. The section treating of 

 the latter subject, and that in which various calculations as to the 

 antiquity of the earth are brought together, will well repay the atten- 

 tion of the reader. 



Illustrations of the Genus Carex. By Francis Boott, M.D. 

 London, Pamplin, 1858-60. 



We have too long delayed noticing this very valuable work. Our 

 excuse may perhaps be found in the difficulty of doing justice to it. 



Botanists have long been hoping to receive some account of the 

 difficult and extensive genus Carex from the pen of that botanist 

 who was known to be the most intimately acquainted with it ; but 

 no one, unless he had the good fortune to be admitted into the secret, 

 as we were not, had any idea that the result would be so magnificent 

 and elaborate as it has proved. 



The book is published in two parts, in folio, and consists of 103 

 pages of type and 310 plates, representing 250 species. The author 

 informs us that his original design was limited to the illustration of 

 the Carices of North America, but that the extensive and beautiful 

 collection of specimens subsequently brought from the East Indies 

 by Dr. Hooker and placed in his hands caused him to extend his 

 plan and to endeavour to illustrate the genus at large. The natural 

 result of this is that the great majority of the species here discussed 

 and figured are either Indian or American. Occasionally a European 

 Carex is noticed, and to these our remarks will be confined, as those 



