1862.] BOTANICAL EXCUllSIONS. 247 



plants, and the elaborate working out of their synonyms would 

 be superfluous. 



It is not believed that the proposed index to the literature of 

 British plants would afliect the circulation of the ' London Cata- 

 logue/ or be an extinguisher to smother its lucid beams. Tar 

 less is it to be expected to strangle in the very birth its more 

 ambitious successor ' The Comparative List.^ There is room 

 enough in the botanical world, small though it be, for all of 

 them. Some would prefer one, some another. 



The ' London Catalogue ' was originally compiled as an index 

 to the Herbarium of the Botanical Society of London ; but 

 since this society has been in abeyance, and its Herbarium now 

 dispersed, this list has little more special importance than any 

 other list would have, except this, that it is cheap. 



The proposed ' Pinax of British Plants' would contain every- 

 thing comprehended in this the original list, and much matter of 

 a literary nature. It would also have an advantage over the 

 'Comparative List' in the juxtaposition of the authorities for 

 the nomenclature of the critical species, without any unnecessary 

 repetition. 



Little more space than that of one number of Mr. Moore's 

 ' Index Filicum' would suffice for this novel undertaking. 



BOTANICAL EXCURSIONS. 



To the Editor of the ' Phytologist.'' 



Dear Sir, — It has occurred to me, that if Ave could induce 

 some of our members of the Lancashire Botanists' Associations 

 to give occasionally some account of their local rambles, it would 

 be interesting to the general readers of the ' Phytologist,' and 

 might at the same time encourage and stimulate other societies 

 similarly formed (which no doubt exist in various parts of the coun- 

 try,) to send their reports for publication. These accounts would be 

 especially interesting to us, being derived from a source like our 

 own. The language in which the facts would be recorded might not 

 be in the most elegant style, and perhaps not so well stored with 

 antique ideas and historical lore, yet, with the aid of a judicious 

 pen, might be made acceptable to most of the readers of the 'Phy- 

 tologist.' These few remarks are offered by way of preamble, and 



