116 REVIEWS. 
trees, appearing to thrive better on one kind of tree than on an- 
other. Can our chemical mineralogists aid us here? Are the 
mineral constituents of the Lichens similar to those of the rocks 
and stones on which they grow? They, like other plants, exercise 
their assimilating properties ou the substances with which they 
are in contact. Can geologists tell us to what extent these pro- 
perties are common? We can easily believe that many Lichens 
are about as ancient as the objects on which they grow, and 
therefore perhaps nearly twice as ancient as any Yew or Baobab, 
which we have been taught to regard as the most common ex- 
amples of longevity in the vegetable kingdom. We will not con- 
test the claims of the Lichen to greater antiquity than these patri- 
archs among the trees of the field, but we demur to the claim . 
that they were first created: (Mr. Lees hints something of the 
kind.) We do not admit the order of detail in the creation, 
simply for the reason that there is no proof but the analogical 
one derived from the operations of nature which are going on 
before our eyes. We admit the latter, because “ seeing is be- 
lieving.” We do not deny the former; we only maintain that 
it is not proven, as a Scotch jury cautiously decides when the 
evidence is not quite convincing. 
The paper on the geology of the Malvern Hills we recommend 
both to our botanical and geological readers; but we have no 
room for an outline of its contents. In fine, the example set by 
our West of England friends is worthy of imitation, and we wish 
to recommend its adoption to our friends nearer home (London). 
And we have very great pleasure in announcing to our readers, 
that the Rev. Mr. Webb, author of the ‘ Hertfordshire Flora,’ in- 
vites all naturalists to join him in a series of rambles in his 
neighbourhood ; the time and place of meeting will be commu- 
nicated on application at our office, 45, Frith-street, London. 
In reference to this gentleman’s kind proposal, we have only to 
add that botany, although the principal, is not the sole object 
of these field meetings, to be held in Hertfordshire and Essex, 
but that naturalists of all departments are invited to accompany 
Mr. Webb. We hope they will avail themselves of Mr. Webb’s 
invitation. His intimate knowledge of the counties where he 
proposes to hold these reunions renders him a most efficient 
leader. 

