382 Bibliogj-nphical Notices. 



logue often tend to diffuse and perpetuate error, as where (in con- 

 formity to the mistaken arrangements of old authors) Tulegalln au- 

 sf7-alis is translated " New Holland Vulture," Diccevm is rendered 

 " Finch," Nectarinia and Mniotilta, " Creeper," Bracliyurus, " Crow," 

 and numerous similar instances. 



The species in the Museum which appear to be undescribed by 

 other authors are distinguished by specific names, now for the first 

 time proposed. We need hardly point out the necessity of speedily 

 attaching specific charactbTS to these new names, either in the cata- 

 logue itself, or in some other publication ; otherwise these names will 

 acquire no authority, and may be unintentionally superseded by later 

 authors. 



With the above exceptions the catalogues are all that can be 

 wished, though one or two improvements might be made in the 

 labels of the specimens themselves. We should like to see the 

 authority for the specific name inserted, as in the present state of 

 science a mere binomial designation, without any clue to the author 

 who gave it, is often vague and ambiguous ; and though the authors' 

 names are to be found in the catalogue, yet it would be more con- 

 venient to have them on the label also. Secondly, as each speci- 

 men is indicated by a separate letter in the catalogue, it would be 

 very desirable that the same letter should be conspicuously marked 

 on the label itself, so that the identity of the specnnens (on which 

 much of their value depends) may be effectually perpetuated, and 

 the spectator may the more readily recognise them. A mark indi- 

 cative of sex and age might also be added to the labels without 

 materially trenching on their space. 



Voyage de la Bonite : Alga. By C. Montague, D.M. 112 pp. 



By the kindness of the author we have received the text of this 

 interesting portion of the account now publishing of the botanical 

 discoveries made during the voyage of the Bonite. The greater part 

 of the new species have already been characterized in the ' Annales 

 des Sciences Naturelles,' but we have here the full descriptions, 

 accompanied in many instances with most valuable remarks. Of 

 these perhaps the most interesting are those on the genus Suhria, 

 which have in great measure been recorded in our journal in a com- 

 munication made by Mr. Berkeley ; and those on the tribe Chorda- 

 riecE, of which we think it may not be uninteresting to give a sketch. 



The genus Chordaria has not hitherto been well described. The 

 author therefore, after referring to all that has been published on the 

 subject, proceeds to give the result of his own observations, having 

 first however stated the structure of Mcsoglcva, a genus which has 

 lately been well illustrated by Meneghini. Speaking of this genus 

 then he says : " The numerous filaments which form the axis of the 

 fi'onds and branches are in general united, or, to speak more correctly, 

 held together, in a looser manner than in Chordaria, by a gelatinous 

 substance interposed between them, and which itself forms one of 

 the elements of the frond. The consistence, however, which results 



