29 



cede theiv names in the new catalogue. Already, however, additions 

 and corrections require to be made to that new catalogue ; examples 

 of which will continue to be sent to the members (although not spe- 

 cially asked for) as the specimens can be procured. It unfortunately 

 happens that the Society's Anniversary occurs at a period of the year 

 which is most incovenient for the Herbarium Committee to make their 

 report. It is precisely the time when fresh parcels are coming in, 

 with the results of the summer labours of collectors ; although too 

 early for any examination of their contents to have been made. 

 Still, it may be observed, that the specimens already received, or 

 promised, are sufficient to warrant an opinion on the part of the 

 Committee, that there will be a very good stock of duplicates for dis- 

 tribution early in 1845, including many valuable specimens. It is 

 not deemed necessary to lengthen the present Report, by any detailed 

 enumeration of the species ; they will be seen and estimated by the 

 members who receive them from the Society. But the Committee 

 feel justified in observing, that the circulation of specimens through 

 the Botanical Society, is truly the very best method for making 

 known new discoveries, and correcting errors of nomenclature. By 

 this step, the discovery or correction is promptly placed before the 

 eyes of numerous active botanists, in the best possible form — that of 

 actual specimens in proof of its reality or truth. While the unvarying 

 regularity of distribution, which has hitherto so peculiarly and exclu- 

 sively distinguished the Botanical Society of London, affords a strong 

 additional inducement for making this Society the general centre of 

 inter-communication between the botanists of Britain. The Com- 

 mittee are well aware (and would by no means wish to conceal the 

 fact), that in the few first years of the Society's existence, from 1836 

 to 1840, the system of labelling and distributing the specimens was 

 very faulty. At the present time, with increased experience, and im- 

 proved arrangements, in this respect, it is believed that the Society's 

 labels and specimens may now be safely appealed to in questions 

 of nomenclature ; though liable, no doubt, to the imperfections of 

 science, at any single period, as well as to those occasional inad- 

 vertencies which may occur in the labelling of many thousand of spe- 

 cimens. Since the last Keport of the Committee, parcels have been 

 received from W. Andrews, Dr. Ayres, T. Bentall, Rev. A. Bloxam, 

 T. Clarke, Rev. W. R. Crotch, Dr. Dewar, R. Embleton, G. Fitt, G. 

 S. Gibson, J. Gibson, J. E. Gray, E. Harvey, T. Ingall, E. Lees, 

 M. Muggridge, J. T. Mackay, D. Moore, W. L. Notcutt, E. Palmer, 

 J. Ray, R. Ranking, J. D. Salmon, Dr. Streeten, Mrs. Stoven, 



