REVIEWS. 433 
author’s preface there is given a very lucid statement of the scope 
and nature of the whole. The introduction details the extent, 
physical features, general view of the vegetation, and other no- 
tices connected with the subject. The Natural arrangement is 
adopted, a great convenience to Botanists, especially to such as 
wish to compare the vegetation of distant and distinct portions 
of the earth’s surface. The orders, suborders, or tribes, etc., are 
fully described. The descriptions of the genera and species are 
usually brief, but characteristic. The localities, time of flowering, 
are then given; after which generally follows a popular, elaborate, 
and minute description of the species, sometimes extending to 
half a page, or im some instances it is still longer. 
The remarks on the range, the scientific and popular names, 
the effects, etc. of the plants are learned, curious, and instruc- 
tive. We quote the following, because we think we can give a 
reason why the plant in question is so called :—It is difficult 
to account for the origin of the English name Henbane, except 
by supposing it to be a corrupt translation of the Greek, and 
properly Hogbean, as the French word ‘Jusquiame’ and the 
Italian ‘Giusquiamo’ are more immediately derived from the 
same classical root. I can find no allusion by any author, ancient 
or modern, te any injurious effect on poultry, which might justify 
the appellation.” (Fl. Vect. p. 330.) We used, many years ago, 
to pass a considerable portion of the summer im or near parts 
where this weed was very common. Then it was observed in 
the corn and fallow fields in the northern parts of Huntingdon- 
shire, as plentiful as the common Field-Thistle, Carduus arvensis, 
is in many ill-weeded fields of England. It was quite a novelty 
to us, who never had previously seen more than a few plants of 
the Henbane here and there on rubbish or by waysides, or occa- 
sionally under a hedge in some rich-soiled or neglected spot. 
The flowers were beautiful, and the foliage and general appearance 
of the plant were not disagreeable; it had a rather fetid smell; 
but several strong-smelling plants are cultivated not for their 
smell, but for other qualities. Where we were resident the Hen- 
bane was proscribed. No sooner did the leaves, which charac- 
terize the weed, unmistakingly indicate the species, than its ex- 
pulsion was decreed, and to the rubbish-heap it was immediately 
consigned. Wishing to spare an old acquaintance, we pleaded 
for it in vain. The cogent reason always given for its extermi- 
MoS. VOL. I. 3K 
