Bibliographical Notices. 4A7 



points inconsistent with the idea are overlooked ; — that, in short, in 

 order to feel any confidence in the truth of any result worked out, it 

 is necessary, at every step, to contend, as it were, against the evi- 

 dence itself, and cautiously to seek out, not so much for that which 

 will support, as for that which will militate against, the conclusion 

 which it is thought may be established. And where the case is a 

 disputed one, there is, philosophically considered, more weight to be 

 attached to, and reliance to be placed upon, results in the statement 

 of which it is admitted that there exist points of difficulty and 

 doubt, — thus affording proof that such points have been sought 

 and not avoided, — than to those the statement of which appears so 

 smooth and clear and free from doubt and difficulty that he who 

 runs may read. While therefore we must bestow the warmest meed 

 of approbation on the elaborate attention which has obviously been 

 given to the anatomical details contained in the present work, and 

 which no one can examine without interest and instruction, we are 

 bound to remind the seeker after truth that this is not all that has been 

 said upon the subject, and therefore not all that can be said ; and, if he 

 would advance truth and true science, he is bound, before accepting 

 the conclusions here put forth, to give every attention to what has 

 been or may be said in support of any other views. He has here one 

 view of the present subject most carefullj?^, elaborately and clearly 

 stated, and with every advantage which pictorial illustration can 

 give. Cordially congratulating the scientific reader that the mate- 

 rials for discussion are thus before him in the most ample form, we 

 must then repeat that they can only, at present, be regarded as mate- 

 rials, and that the question of the affinities of the Dodo cannot be 

 regarded as settled and conclusively established until a careful com- 

 parison has been made between the facts urged in support of the 

 conclusion set forth in this volume and those which have more 

 especially attracted the attention of others, who, from an examina- 

 tion of the materials which exist for a determination of the question, 

 have arrived at a different conclusion. 



Outlines of Botany, Part 1. By W. Maten, M.D. London, 

 H. Bailli^re. 1848. 



This little work appears to have been drawn up as a substitute for 

 the notes which industrious students make during their attendance on 

 lectures. As such it may prove useful, but to those who have had 

 no previous instruction it will be of little service. When we mention 

 that it has been attempted to give an outline of the organography 

 and physiology of plants in eighteen pages, and that all the more 

 important organs and parts are alluded to, it will be comprehended 

 that no great space could be afforded for explanations. On the 

 whole the organography is tolerably clear, though in several points 

 the author has adopted views now generally abandoned. Several of 

 these cases we have marked for notice. 



The description of the structure of stems is sufficiently vague, and 

 the old doctrine of endogenous growth is still adhered to. No allu- 



