BihliograpMcal Notices. 123 



in the first instance by aclventnvous and earnest men, rendering good ser- 

 vice by tlieir hands and energy, as good in its humble way as that which he 

 gives by his head and philosophy. It was not to be expected of such men 

 that in the field they should occupy themselves with thoughts of arrange- 

 ment or affinity ; their part was to observe and select, and the guide to their 

 observation and selection was in most cases no other than the Linnasan sy- 

 stem. In the scientific hive as in the apiary there must be working-bees and 

 neuters as well as queens and drones : it is necessary for the economy of the 

 commonwealth. An easy means of acquiring and arranging information is 

 a great help to the workmen of science, and no department has gained more 

 thereby than botany, whicli, through the facilities afforded by the artificial 

 method devised by Linnaeus, has had its facts amassed in enormous quan- 

 tity for the use of its more philosophic votaries, and owes its present ad- 

 vanced state in a great measure to such humble means. 



" The clue to the labyrinth, then, having served such noble purpose be- 

 comes a consecrated object, and should rather be hung up in the temple than 

 thrown aside with ignominy. The traveller returning from bis adventurous 

 and perilous journey of discovery, hangs up his knapsack with affection on the 

 wall of his study. But travellers must return to the fields, if more is to be 

 done ; and so must botanists, and each must have recourse again and again 

 to those helps which aided them so well in their earliest journeys." 



We are quite willing to hang this system up in the temple any- 

 where as long as it does not interfere with plants, and we think, as 

 far as our own island is concerned, especially since the publication of 

 Lindley's ' Synopsis,' the last edition of Hooker's ' Flora ' and Ba- 

 bington's ' Manual,' that we should never wish again to disturb its 

 dignity by carrying it into the fields. In conclusion, we recommend 

 Professor Forbes's lecture as well worth the attentive perusal, not 

 only of the student and teacher of medical science, but of all who 

 take an interest in the advancement of sound education. 



Recherches sur V organisation, la fructification et la classification de 

 plusieurs genres d'Algues, avec la description de quelqties especes 

 inedites ou peu counties. 



Essai d'une repartition des Polypiers calciferes de Lamouroux dans la 

 classe des Algues. Par J. F. Chauvin : Caen, 1842. 



These memoirs, which were prepared as academical theses, are of 

 considerable interest to the algologist, both physiologically and sy- 

 stematically. Several points regarding obscure or little-known spe- 

 cies are illustrated, and the different questions which have lately in- 

 terested algologists are discussed with little of that controversial 

 tone which has, we know not how, insinuated itself into several re- 

 cent memoirs on the subject. The notions of Decaisne on the double 

 fructification of Algae are ably treated, and are, at least, shown to be 

 premature. The opinion of algologists, both theoretical and jirac- 

 tical, is opposed to them ; and Mr. Griffiths especially, who has de- 

 voted years to the study of the marine Algse, is satisfied that they 

 are incorrect. We cannot, however, at present consider the subject 

 as at all settled, especially supported as it is by what is known of 

 the germination of Algse. 



It appears that there are very many modes of reproduction amongst 



