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Art. CLXIY.— Notice of ' The Bolamj of the Malvern Hills, in the 

 Counties of Worcester, Hereford, and Gloucester; with the 

 Precise Stations of the Rarer Plants, and Introductory Obser- 

 vations on the General Features, Geology, and Natural History 

 of the District. By Edwin Lees, F.L.S., &c. &c. London : 

 Tilt and Bogue, Fleet Street; and H. Lamb, Malvern. 1843. 



Mr. Lees has been so long and so well known as an ardent botani- 

 cal explorer, as well as for his persevering efforts to popularize his 

 favourite science, that to our readers any other introduction than the 

 mere mention of his name would be quite superfluous. ' The Botany of 

 the Malvern Hills,' as may be learned from its title, is strictly a local 

 Flora of that rich district, and presents a record of the harvest yielded 

 to the author's personal researches during a residence of several years 

 in the neighbourhood. The following passage will explain the pains 

 taken to render this as correct and complete as possible. 



" Althougb the present work is scarcely more than a catalogue, it has taken the 

 lahour of years to survey and resurvey the ground minutely, and a multitude of studi- 

 ous hours have been spent in determining the less obvious and dubious plants. I think 

 therefore, I may safely say, that there is no mistake in the Phanerogamous ])roductions, 

 most of which have again and again passed under my review, and I have excluded 

 several species because evidently introduced, my object being to show the really indi- 

 genous Flora of the hills. It is true I have admitted a few agrarians, but these are 

 perhaps as old as the introduction of corn, and therefore not undeserving attention. 

 All the plants are to be understood as having been gathered hif myself, except in the 

 few instances where I rely upon the authority of friends who have sent me specimens. 



" The Cryptogamic productions of the hills are so varied and curious, that I have 

 taken especial note of them, and I much regret that the limits necessarily assigned to 

 the present publication, have precluded my entering into the details respecting them I 

 desired to do. I can hardly assert that in this intricate department I have been in every 

 case correct in my designations, but I have consulted all the aids in my power. I have 

 deposited specimens of all, or nearly all, the plants I gathered in the herbarium of the 

 Botanical Society of London, so that botanists may easily refer to any of them, in case 

 a doubt should arise to render it necessary." — Preface, p. vii. 



The full reports of a paper by Mr. Lees* on the Botany of this dis- 

 trict, which have already appeared in our pages, render it unnecessary 

 for us to follow the author through his " Introductory Remarks ; " we 

 must, however, give the following extract. 



" A good relieving artistical feature is given to the hills at all times by the fallen 

 stones in the ravines, for though these are shapeless enough close at hand, and with 



* Read before the Botanical Society of London : see Phytol. pp. 152, 206, & 268. 



3 p 



