263 



Oclonthalia dentata Porphyra vulffaris Rliodomenia palmata 



Plocamium coccineum Ptilota phnnosa Ulva latissima 



Polysiphonia fastigiata 



On viewing the list it will be seen that the phanerogamous plants 

 collected represent 33 natural orders, and amount to 79 species and 

 one variety. The list of cryptogaraic plants is by no means complete, 

 partly from the short time allowed for the examination of the island 

 and partly on account of many of the mosses and lichens not being in 

 fructification. There were observed 7 species of ferns, 14 mosses, 

 4 Hepaticae, 19 lichens and 14 sea- weeds, making in all 68 crypto- 

 gamic species. It will be remarked that the ferns are in the propor- 

 tion of 1 to about every 11 of the flowering plants ; and taking phane- 

 rogamous plants and ferns together, the latter will form nearly l-12th 

 of the species. J. H. Balfour. 



Glasgow, June, 1845. 



Cursory Thoughts on the Philosophy of Botany. By Edwin Lees, 



Esq., F.L.S., &c. 



1 HAVE frequently had to complain, either orally or in writing, of the 

 contempt cast upon the "mere botanist," — a favourite term used by 

 professed philosophical writers, as if there was something paltry and 

 senseless in the pursuit of Botany itself, technically considered ; — 

 something so very mechanical, that thought was never called forth 

 by it, reflection never aroused, or truth sought for or arrived at. 

 Such ideal degradation of labourers in other walks than their own, 

 if not excusable, may be accounted for ; but surely the unkind asper- 

 sion should not come from the practical botanist to his own brethren. 

 Mr. H. C. Watson, has, in some of his late papers, however, rather 

 unnecessarily fallen foul upon the humble yet perhaps not altogether 

 inutile tribe of plant-collectors, who, as observers and recorders of "un- 

 considered trifles," are denominated hair-splitters, and species-splitting 

 monomaniacs.* This seems rather unqualified language to apply to 

 poor wandering simplers after rifling their stores ! As Mr. Watson's 

 name is so deservedly honoured among British botanists, I presume 

 he has a license, like the heroes of old, to brandish his battle-axe on 

 all sides without let or hindrance, though almost as much to the ter- 

 ror of friend as foe ; but in his last flourish it has so nearly fallen 

 upon my own toes, that if no one else calls out, I must. 



* Phytol. Vol. ii. pp. 161, 219. 



