356 



I sincerely hope that botanists in this country will cordially assist 

 in promoting M. Seemann's views. It appears to me that he has un- 

 dertaken a gigantic labour, and one very difficult of accomplishment ; 

 but of this surely those who may hope to benefit by his labours have 

 no right to complain, but, on the other hand, should do all in their 

 power to relieve his shoulders from a portion of the burthen. Being, 

 as it were, invited to offer a criticism, I may say that the plan of 

 arrangement, as regards typography, does not appear to me the most 

 lucid : the author seems to have scarcely made sufficient allowance 

 for the shortcomings of those whose scientific attainments are less 

 extensive than his own. Take, for instance, the following line: — 



" Calaguala, Huyllay. Cruck. Acrostichum." 



This will immediately convey to a Hooker, or a Brown, the required 

 information, that Calaguala is a native name ; Huyllay, a country j 

 Cruck., an authority ; and Acrostichum, the modern genus to which 

 the plant belongs : but, certainly, to many a tyro the same informa- 

 tion will not be conveyed. I take the liberty of suggesting to the 

 author, whether the list would not be rendered more generally intelli- 

 gible by adopting the tabular method of arrangement, and by itali- 

 cizing the authority for the technical name ; thus : — 



Native Name. Country. Authority. Scientific Name. 



Calaguala. Huyllay. Cruck. Acrostichum, Linn. 



The heading to be repeated on every page. 



It will be impossible to read some of the Mexican names without 

 being reminded of the legend which tells of the invading Spaniard, 

 whose jaw was dislocated in the fruitless attempt to pronounce one of 

 them. Take, for instance, the following specimens : — 



" Corticoatzontecxochitl. 

 *' Cozticzacatzacuchotitl. 

 " Macpalxochitlquahuitl." 



I am very glad the author uses the Roman characters. Only think 

 of such words in German or Russian letters ! 



