318 BibliograjiMcal Notices. 



After all, it may be but a matter of choice \vhetlicr, from oppor- 

 tunities of travel, or of consultiisg herbaria and botanical gardens, we 

 endeavour to master many distinct forms (let us say "sub-genera"), 

 or turn our attention to the thorough discrimination of what lies 

 close at our feet. An equal amount of labour may be given in either 

 case, and, if conscientiously bestowed, not lost. 



These remarks will have prepared our readers to expect, from a 

 botanist of the experience of ^Ir. Bentham, views of a decidedly 

 collective tendency. His estimate of the value of a species he considers 

 as founded upon the " Linnfean" standard : and certainly this plan 

 offers many conveniences to the general and geographical botanist. We 

 know further, from his paper read before the Linnsean Society in March 

 1857 (Journal of Proceedings, ii. 30), that our author is prepared 

 to take the same course Avith respect to the genera and orders, so far 

 as established by Linnfeus, as he recommends a return to the use of 

 them also, "for the inirpose of language,''' and to give to the sub- 

 ordinate groups of suborders and subgenera a sectional value only, 

 with no names at all. 



This course INIr. Bentham considers the only escape from the 

 inevitable confusion and ever-increasing difficulties which arise from 

 the daily addition of new names. 



Now we do not pretend to say whether, as regards species, this Is 

 to be considered as merely the philosophical view of a botanist of 

 large experience, or whether such a plan equally recommends itself 

 from the facility which it affords to the young student of English 

 botany. The High Tory leader, however, as sometimes happens in 

 politics, addresses himself to the illiterate class. Here we cannot 

 help suspecting that our author is smoothing the road for the be- 

 ginner where he has travelled too cursorily himself. 



The professed object of Mr. Bentham is to render the student's 

 first steps as easy as possible : that he should afterwards complete 

 his studies in a more exact school is implied ; and, indeed, without 

 this, he would soon lose interest, if he should wish to confine his 

 attention to British botany. 



The means used to facilitate the beginner's studies are : — 



1 . Condensation of species to the supposed standard of Linnceus, 

 or beyond it. 



2. The use of the dichotomous method of Lamarck, as an ana- 

 lytical key to the orders, genera, and species. (This is likely to 

 prove the most successful part of the book.) 



3. Simplicity, and English terms, as far as possiljle, in the de- 

 scriptions ; and EnfjUsh names for the orders, genera, and species. 



4. A concise, and eminently lucid, introduction to the know- 

 ledge of the structure of plants, and of the terms employed in 

 their descri})tion. 



The following is Mr. Bentham's definition of a species : — It " com- 

 prises all the individual i)lants which resemble each other sufficiently 

 to make us conclude they are all, or may have been all, descended 

 from a common parent. These individuals may often differ from 

 each other in many striking ])articulars, such as colour of the flower, 



