io6 The Life and Writings of 



many references to the indigenous forest trees of various 

 parts of the State. On pages 300, 301, and 353-356 are 

 two formal lists, with both Bnglish and Latin names, of 

 trees that form the basis of the supplement of Rafinesque 

 in his Florula. The last few pages of Rafinesque s book 

 are concerned with advertisements of his books and 

 papers already published, and to be published, as well 

 as mention of some still in hand. Taken altogether 

 the volume is a most curious botanical olla podrida. 



The descriptions of Robin, as he himself states, 

 were all based upon the living plants; he made no col 

 lections; nor were his notes submitted to any competent 

 botanist. That he actually saw the plants he indicates, 

 and to which he gave the French provincial names, is 

 without question the fact, but he nowhere describes these 

 plants technically. Nor is it at all likely that he pos 

 sessed the ability to do so. The Latin diagnoses of 

 Rafinesque, therefore, must be regarded as pure fabri- 



view of the soil, climate, animal, vegetable, and mineral | productions: illus 

 trative of their natural physiognomy, | their geographical configuration, and 

 relative situations; | with an account of the character and manners of the j 

 inhabitants. | Together with | A Map, | from actual Survey and Observation, 

 projected on a scale of | ten miles to an inch, of | The State of Louisiana, | and 



adjacent countries. | Second Edition, enlarged and improved. | | By 



William Darby. | | [Extract of five lines, in French, from the Memoire 



de M. De Vergennes sur la Louisiane.} \ | New York. | Published by 



James Olmstead, | Sold also by B. Levy & Co. Booksellers, New Orleans. | 

 J. Seymour, printer. | | 1817. [8vo., map, pp. I-XII (i, Map) 13-356. (3).] 



