142 Bibliographical Notices. 



Journals of Travels in Assam, Burma, Bootan, Affganistan, and the 

 neighbouring countries. By the late William Griffith, F.L.S., 

 &c. &c. Arranged by J. MacClelland, F.L.S. Calcutta, 1847. 



Notula ad Plantas Asiaticas. Part I. Development of Organs in Pha- 

 nerogamous Plants. By the same. 



Icones Plantarum Asiaticarum. Parti. By the same. 



These valuable works are a portion of the " Posthumous Papers 

 bequeathed to the Honourable the East India Company, and printed 

 by order of the Government of Bengal," of the late lamented W. 

 Griffith. The Company has, with its accustomed liberality, printed 

 them, and is now presenting copies of them to those persons and 

 Societies to whom they may be useful. It does not appear that any 

 copies are offered for sale. 



The work at the head of our list is an octavo volume of above 500 

 pages, full of remarks upon the little-known districts which he tra- 

 versed and peculiarly rich in botanical information. It is also illus- 

 trated by some capital sketches of scenery. The other two books 

 constitute the descriptive text, and illustrative plates of what may 

 be considered as one work. The quarto plates are sixty- two in num- 

 ber, and are quite filled with magnified and elaborate dissections in 

 illustration, chiefly of the development of the parts of the flower, in 

 numerous genera and species. It is unnecessary to remark upon the 

 value of these plates and their descriptions. Those who are ac- 

 quainted with Mr. Griffith's papers contained in the late volumes of 

 the ' Linnsean Transactions,' — and what botanist is not ? — will know 

 what to expect and will not be disappointed. 



We presume from the Travels ending with the " end of vol. I." 

 and the other books being each denominated Part I., that it is the 

 intention of the Honourable Company to publish further portions of 

 the papers in its possession. We trust that it will prove so ; for the 

 remarks of such an observer as the present author ought not to be 

 lost. 



The Marine Botanist : an Introduction to. the study of Algology, con- 

 taining Descriptions of the commonest British Sea-Weeds, with 

 Figures of the most remarkable Species. By Isabella Gifford. 

 London : Darton and Co. 



A nice little book upon the British Sea-weeds, which our sub- 

 scribers may safely recommend to such of their friends as purpose 

 visiting the coast. 



The work is professedly only a preparation for more perfect syste- 

 matic books, the object of this being to give descriptions of our 

 commonest marine Algse in as simple words as possible, and the 

 authoress has shown as much judgement in the important matter of 

 terminology as in the general arrangement of the matter. An abso- 

 lute avoidance of scientific terms must lead to obscurity in the pre- 

 sent state of knowledge, and the only way to simplify the technical 

 terms is to make them more scientifically definite. Those who ob- 

 ject to the " hard words," as they are called, in works on Natural 



