^44 



plan commenced in the first edition ; namely, the occasional mention 

 of species which are deemed likely to occur in this country, although 

 they have not yet been ascertained to grow in the British Islands. In 

 some very few instances, too, the author has even retraced his own 

 steps, by re-uniting supposed species which he had before divided, or 

 again separating those which he had formerly combined into one. It 

 may be presumed that the evidence was very conclusive and undeniable, 

 which compelled our present author to take these courses, especially 

 that of re-union. As instances of re-union, we may refer to Teucrium 

 Scordium and Scordioides, to Hieracium boreale and sabaudum. 

 And as examples of subdivision, we find Newman's three species 

 of Lastraea (recurva, multiflora, spinosa), substituted for the L. dilata- 

 ta of the former edition, although under other names ; also in the ge- 

 nus Polystichum, we have the angulare again sepai'ated from the acu- 

 leatum, the lobatum being retained as a variety of the latter. As 

 might have been anticipated, there appears most re-modelling in the 

 genus Hieracium. 



Whichever edition we take, the Manual is certainly a work of stan- 

 dard value, either for the use of the student who wishes to learn the 

 names of plants, or for the use of those botanists who would institute 

 comparisons between the botanical productions of Britain and those of 

 other European countries. Its own intrinsic merits and moderate 

 price will ensure its success in the book-market, especially if the au- 

 thor keeps up to his prudent practice of lauding the lecturers who can 

 use it in their class-rooms and recommend it to their pupils. For our 

 part, we have no objection to make against the emplojTnent of a little 

 " worldly wisdom " in this instance : it can only increase the sale of a 

 work which well deserves to be sold. 



Indeed, we consider it a fortunate circumstance that this very ne- 

 cessary department of British Botany has been taken under the control 

 of an individual who possesses such a combination of natural and ad- 

 ventitious qualifications for the office of descriptive botanist. Evi- 

 dently deriving fi'om nature a matter-of-fact cast of mind, adapted to 

 minute observation and detail, and not diverted therefrom by any 

 great tendency to imagine or to reason, the author is admirably fitted 

 for the good execution of a task, which turns chiefly upon the atten- 

 tive examination and comparison of small physical differences. In- 

 dividuals of comprehensive mental grasp, especially the imaginative 

 and reflective, cannot submit to the patient drudgery of examining 

 those innumerable petty details which the technical describer of plants 

 must make hunself familiarly acquainted with. Success in this depart- 



