Notices of European Herbaria. 1 83 



what smaller than the English size, perhajis about fifteen inches by 

 ten ; and the specimens are attached to half- sheets by loops or slips 

 of paper fastened by pins, so that they may readily be detaclied, if 

 necessary, for particular examination. Several specimens from dif- 

 ferent sources or localities, or exhibiting the difterent varieties of a 

 species, are retained when practicable ; and each species has a sepa- 

 rate cover, with a label affixed to the corner, containing the name, 

 and a reference to the volume and page of the ' Prodromus' where it 

 is described. The limits of genera, sections, tribes, etc. are marked 

 by interposed sheets, with the name written on projecting slips. The 

 parcels which occujiy each compartment of the well-filled shelves are 

 protected by pieces of binder's board, and secured by a cord, which 

 is the more necessary as the cases are not closed by doors or 

 cui'tains. 



The royal Bavarian herbarium at Munich is chiefly valuable for its 

 Bi'azihan plants, with which it has been enriched by the laborious 

 and learned Martius. The North American botanist will, howeve:-, 

 be interested in the herbarium of Schreber, which is here jjreserved, 

 and comprises the authentic specimens described or figured in his 

 work on the Grasses ; the American specimens mostly communicated 

 by Muhlenberg, The Graminese of this and the general herbarium 

 have been revised by Nees von Esenbeck, and still later by Trinius. 

 It was here that the latter, who for many years had devoted himself 

 to the exclusive study of this tribe of plants, and had nearly finished 

 the examination of the chief herbaria of the Continent, preparatory 

 to the publication of a new ' Agrostographia,' was suddenly struck 

 with a paralysis, which has probably brought his scientific labours 

 to a close. 



The imperial herbarium at Vienna, under the superintendence of 

 the accomplished Endlicher, assisted by Dr. Fenzl, is rajiidly becom- 

 ing one of the most valuable and extensive collections in Europe. 

 The various herbaria of which it is composed have recently been in- 

 corporated into one, which is prepared nearly after the English me- 

 thod. It however possesses few North American plants, excejit a 

 collection made by EnsUn (a collector sent to this country by Prince 

 Lichtenstein, from whom Pursh obtained many si^ecimens from the 

 Southern States), and some recent contributions by Hooker, etc. 

 There is also an imperfect set of the plants collected by Hsenke (a 

 portion of which are from Oregon and California), so far as they are 

 yet pubUshed in the ' Reliquiae Hsenkeanae' of Presl, in whose cus- 

 tody, as curator of the Bohemian museum at Prague, the original 

 collection remains. 



The herbarium of the late Professor Sprengel still remains in the 

 possession of his son. Dr. Anthony Sprengel, at Halle, but is offered 

 for sale. It comprises many North American plants, communicated 

 by Muhlenberg and Torrey. The herbarium of Schkuhr was be- 

 queathed to the University of Wittemberg, and at the union of this 

 university with that of Halle was transferred to the latter, where it 

 remains under the care of Professor Von Schlechtendal. It contains 

 a large portion of the Carices described and figured ua Schkuhr's 



