274 Bibliographical Notices. 



stating that most of the phsenomena I have traced were also 

 observed by my friends and fellow-students at the College, 

 Messrs. Hulme and Hallett. 



BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 



The Rudiments of Botany: a familiar Introduction to the Study of 

 Plants, By A. Henfrey, F.L.S. &c. London, Van Voorst, 1849. 

 24mo. Pp. 249. 



We have often been asked to point out some book by which a 

 beginner might easily attain a knowledge of the more elementary 

 parts of botany, and have always felt much difficulty in giving a 

 satisfactory answer to the question. The above-named work has 

 now supplied the want, and in future we shall at once direct the in- 

 quirer's attention to it. It is written in simple language, so as to 

 be easily understood by those who are totally without botanical 

 knowledge, and nevertheless contains nearly all that preliminary in- 

 formation which it is requisite to obtain before approaching the more 

 elaborate * Introductions to Botany,' such as the ' Outlines of Bo- 

 tany ' by the same author, or Professor Balfour's * Manual.' Those 

 who desire, as we hope all who have gone so far will do, to obtain 

 still more minute scientific knowledge, will then study Dr. Lindley's 

 excellent ' Introduction.' It is not however absolutely necessary, for 

 such as only contemplate attaining a knowledge of the names of 

 British plants, to extend their reading, at first, beyond the nice little 

 book before us, since they will find in it all that is absolutely requi- 

 site to enable them to use the books descriptive of our native plants. 

 We say absolutely necessary ; for we certainly do not believe that 

 those who have attained to that amount of knowledge will be satisfied 

 to remain ignorant of the many highly interesting subjects included 

 in physiological, not to mention the more curious and abstruse parts 

 of systematic, botany which are elucidated in the more elaborate 

 works, which, having got over the difficulties attending the attain- 

 ment of the rudiments of the science, they will then be enabled to 

 read with interest and ease. 



We think that Mr. Henfrey has performed the task which he has 

 undertaken in a very satisfactory manner, nor have we any objections 

 to make to the plan which he has followed, but think that he will 

 be able in a future edition (for which we expect an early call) in 

 some degree to improve the language of his book : not that much 

 improvement is requisite, but such a book cannot be written in lan- 

 guage of too simple and perspicuous a character. In some few cases 

 an error in the punctuation has caused some slight ambiguity which 

 will be immediately detected by its author. There are also a few 

 typographical errors which require correction. These ambiguities 

 and errors present no difficulty to the botanical reader, but may be 

 the cause of error or inconvenience to the beginners to whom the 

 book is addressed. For instance (p. 34), the wallflower, pink and 



