62 Bibliographical Notices. 



remarks, which extend to a considerable length, relating to structure 

 and other general matters, excellent ; but all that relates to characters, 

 species, synonj'ms, literature, &c. by no means satisfies us. 



The characters both of genera and species are very loosely drawn, 

 without any clear notions, as it appears to us, of what a genus or spe- 

 cies should be ; the synonyms are often incorrect or insufficient ; the 

 phraseology new and needlessly complex ; but the main fault, in a 

 work of such a general scope, is the very limited acquaintance which 

 the author seems to have with French and English literature. The 

 greater part of the discoveries for instance of Dr. Montagne, not to 

 mention a host of other algologists, both in France and England, and 

 those recorded mostly in works of easy access, are not so much as 

 mentioned, and genera which have been characterized years since are 

 treated as if they were but now extracted from the chaos. This 

 is the more to be lamented, because no part of botany perhaps has 

 suffered so much as algology, from the circumstance of writers, even 

 such as Agardh, not being fully acquainted with the literature of the 

 day ; in consequence of which a master-hand is requisite to produce 

 a nomenclature, M'hich would meet with universal approbation, at 

 once consistent with the laws of priority and free from all spirit of 

 partiality ; and this can only be done by the acknowledged excellence 

 of some general work upon the subject, or by a special memoir under- 

 taken with the express view of reconciling differences. 



At the same time it is but just to state, that the author adverts 

 himself to the difficulties under which he laboured in this respect in 

 consequence of his being located where he had the advantage of a very 

 limited library only, and doubtless some of these faults will be re- 

 medied in his future labours. The Diatomacece are not included in 

 the work, but will form a distinct treatise, for which the author is 

 preparing copious illustrations. 



Notwithstanding the drawbacks mentioned above, there cannot be 

 a doubt that the work will have a most beneficial influence upon sci- 

 ence ; and it is not merely to the algologist that it will prove interest- 

 ing, but to all w^ho study the structure of plants. The cellular tissue 

 is very various and abounds in points of interest ; there is even in 

 some Algse a close approach to the dotted cells, to which attention 

 has been directed so much by Mohl and others. 



The differences in the arrangement and development of the fruc- 

 tification are far more numerous than might be expected, and present 

 characters as various as they are important, and fully justify the an- 

 ticipation of Fries, put forth at the same time with the opinion which 

 we before noticed as to the state of algology, that the fructification 

 would in process of time afford the best and most natural means of 

 arrangement. 



One of the most interesting points afforded by the work is the 

 means vvhicli it gives of judging of the correctness of Decaisne's 

 theory of the identity of the spores and tetraspores in Floridea, and 

 of the propriety of his division into Aplospores and Chorispores. Our 

 impression is, that in the end this will be found untenable ; but even 

 should this be the result of mature judgement, we shall not think 



