1861.] REVIEWS. 249 



among the things that were, like the tin -trade and Roman 

 superiority^ remind us pensively, if not painfully, of the mutations 

 of human affairs. We however are neither historians nor anti- 

 quarians, nor sentimentalists, but botanists, and therefore we 

 will not be like the shoemaker who went beyond his last. The 

 antiquities, the social state of the islanders, their religion, and 

 their politics, must be left unsaid ; our vocation is of a humbler 

 kind. The brief space left for further notice of this excellent 

 tourists' guide, must be filled up with some remarks on the 

 resume of its vegetable productions, so well compiled, as above 

 said, by one of the earliest and most esteemed contributors to 

 the ' Phytologist.' 



Botanists rarely have reason to grumble at the meed of praise 

 which they receive from each other ; and this should not be 

 begrudged, for it is usually all they get for their botanical 

 labours. 



Our author, for his botanical resume, divides the Isle of 

 Wight into five divisions : viz. first, the seashore ; second, the 

 Northern Tertiaries ; third, the Central Chalk range ; fourth, 

 the Valley of the Greensand ; fifth, the Undercliff, with the 

 downs above it. "■ Only the more prominent or interesting " 

 species, the reader is respectfully informed, " can find room here ; 

 but those who require more complete information, will necessarily 

 refer to Dr. BromfiekVs ' Flora Vectensis,' where the localities 

 are most carefully indicated, and also to Babington's ' Manual,' 

 which contains the," as our author informs us, " most accurate 

 descriptions of all our British species." 



Some botanists might demur before indorsing the latter clause 

 of the sentence ; but the author is well qualified to bear testimony 

 to the value of a Flora which he and most British botanists have 

 consulted with much profit. Mayhap he has not seen all the 

 other British Floras now in circulation and use ; or possibly he 

 ignores their existence ; or, worse still, not only holds them cheap, 

 but deems them intrusives, — mischievous interlopers on the pre- 

 serves of science, whose room would be better than their com- 

 pany. 



The seashore on the north and east, and the lower cliff" on the 

 south of the Island, will most amply repay the botanist for the 

 expense and trouble of a visit to these rich localities. Respecting 

 the former our author says that '' It is upon the tract of the 



N.S. VOL. V. 2 K 



