549 



ous difficulty with respect to the exact species of this plant, as Mr. 

 Babingtou of Cambridge, to whom Mr. Lees sent specimens, thought 

 it exactly intermediate between A. rubra and A. marina. 



" The plants in this list though not all perfectly marine, are yet 

 such as generally elect to grow by the sea side, hence their prevalence 

 in the district under review affords good evidence that marine condi- 

 tions once prevailed along the greater part of the valley of the Severn, 

 and that the marine waters were far wider than the reach of even the 

 floods of our day." 



Notice of The Sea-Side Book. By W. H. Harvey, M.D. London : 

 Van Voorst. 1849.' 



A very pretty book with a very good title, and from beginning to 

 end replete with solid and valuable information. The illustrations 

 are numerous and admirable, and the getting up of the book is every- 

 thing that could be desired. 



There is, however, a little drawback to this encomium. Dr. Harvey 

 is known to be a profoundly philosophical writer, more especially 

 profound and philosophical on the productions of the sea; and having 

 justly acquired a reputation for great knowledge — we had almost 

 written wisdom — he finds it difficult, or thinks it undesirable, to de- 

 scend to that familiar style which attracts the student, and which is 

 really required to maintain any lasting hold on the attention of the 

 holiday rambler on the beach of a summer sea. We are aware how 

 very rarely are united in the same individual, knowledge and the 

 power of communicating it attractively ; hence the unpopularity of 

 correct, the high popularity of incorrect books. It seems to matter 

 little to the reader what blunders may occur in transposition of names, 

 or mis-statement of facts, provided such blunders and mis-statements 

 are served up in agreeable and perspicuous language. How greatly 

 is it to be deplored that those who possess the knowledge will not 

 stoop to the mental calibre of those who read. We use this term in 

 no offensive sense, but we draw a marked and permanent distinction 

 between the mode of addressing scientific truths to a Robert Brown, 

 or a Hewett Watson, and that mode required by our wives and chil- 

 dren ; and a sea-side book, with its pretty illustrations and attractive 

 cover, is apparently designed for our wives and children, rather than 

 for our Browns and Watsons. The first edition is sure to sell — Dr. 



