BENTHAM' S FLORA OF AUSTRALIA. 247 



is worked up by one mind and hand, within a time and at an 

 age which allows no sensible change of ideas or points of view, 

 so that it is throughout comparable with itself. It is the 

 work of the most experienced and wise systematic botanist of 

 the day, and when we know that fully as much other work, 

 of equal character, has been done within these fifteen years, 

 it will not be denied that the author's industry and powers of 

 accomplishment are unrivalled. No one else has done such 

 srood botanical work at such a rate. If, as some fear, the 

 race of first-class systematic (phsenogamous) botanists is des- 

 tined to die out or dwindle, it will not be for the lack in our 

 day of a worthy model. 



In the concluding Preface, Mr. Bentham turns over to his 

 able and equally indefatigable coadjutor, Von Mueller, the 

 duty of incorporating addenda and corrections, and suggests 

 the preparation of a methodical synopsis, for convenient use, 

 especially in Australia, where such a handbook will be most 

 helpful and needful. This trust, we doubt not, Von Mueller 

 will duly undertake, and may be expected worthily to ac- 

 complish. His fellow-workers over the world are not un- 

 mindful of their great obligations to him in the development 

 of Australian botany, and in rendering practicable the pro- 

 duction of this " Flora Australiensis " which has been equally 

 enriched by his vast collections and facilitated by his prelim- 

 inary study of them. 



Mr. Bentham now declines to undertake " a detailed ex- 

 amination of the relations, as well of the whole flora to that 

 of other countries, as of its component parts to each other," 

 referring instead to " the principles laid down by J. D. Hooker 

 in the admirable essay prefixed to his ' Flora Tasmania?,' ! 

 but recapitulating shortly the general characteristics of the 

 chief component parts of the present flora of Australia, the 

 most peculiar one of any large part of the globe. Let us still 

 hope that he may some day reconsider this determination, so 

 far as to discuss in a general way the relations of Australian 

 botany to the history of vegetation on the globe. 



Peculiar as the Australian vegetation is, its treatment not 

 rarely touches points which concern the student of the Ameri- 



