1861.] REVIEWS. 121 



dent stated that he had seen a fossil specimen, with the inferior 

 portion of the stem more than six inches in diameter, with the 

 protruding roots, exactly as we see in the larger kinds of Grasses 

 at present existing. 



We wish the members of this well-managed Society fine weather 

 for their excvirsions, which we also hope will be very successful. 

 Our readers will naturally look for a report of the rarities aud 

 novelties which they may have the good hap to discover. 



Flora of CambridgesJiire ; or, a Catalogue of Plants found in the 

 County of Cambridge. By Charles Cardale Babington, 

 M.A., F.R.S., F.L.S. London: Van Voorst, 1860. 



The ' Flora of Cambridgeshire ' is an admirable specimen of 

 its class. Four requisites are essential to the completeness of a 

 local Flora. First, a competent knowledge of the plants. Second, 

 a perfect acquaintance with the literature of the subject. Third, 

 a thorough exploration of the field of study. Fourth, and not 

 least, a critical eye for anything suspicious in the place of growth 

 of any doubtful native. All these points have been most care- 

 fully attended to in the volume before us. In the fifty-six pre- 

 liminary pages Mr. Babington gives us a full account of all that 

 has been written by former botanists upon the plants of Cam- 

 bridgeshire. Then follow some excellent topographical remarks ; 

 a map of the county ; and a table of distribution, in which the 

 plants are traced through eight subdivisions or districts. 



The nomenclature and arrangement are naturally those of the 

 fourth edition of the ' Manual of British Botany.' Generic and 

 specific descriptions are omitted as unnecessary in a local Flora ; 

 and the matter under each species is limited to — 1 . The Latin 

 specific name, followed by the English name, when there is a real 

 one. 2. The denomination of the plant, as found in the works of 

 Eay, Marty n, Lyons, llelhan, etc. 3. The general character of 

 the places where the plant grows, its duration and period of 

 flowering. 4. The special localities, followed in each case by the 

 name of the authority, or the initials of the observer. 



An important feature of Mr. Babington's ' Flora of Cambridge- 



N. S. VOL. v. B, 



