REVIE-WS. 241 



always agree with our feeling of what is natural, wliich however is only 

 the general effect of previous judgments and impressions occurring with- 

 out reference to this view of the subject, and is only worth anything so 

 far as our own previous judgments rested on clear and solid charac- 

 ters which it would not be easy to overbalance by other views of the 

 matter. It seems reasonable in such a case that we should await fur- 

 ther knowledge and study before we presume to pronounce any judg- 

 ment, but we think it would have been better if tbe author had 

 explained and defended his ideas more fully. We should like also a 

 fuller explanation on the subject of the position of the raphe, we mean 

 as to the theoretical grounds for the special importance attached to if, 

 and the proof that can be given of its intimate connection with natural 

 grouping. The elaborate tables given by the author form a most 

 interesting study to any one desiring to understand the affinities of 

 plants. Being the chief part of the work they have been allowed to 

 give the book a peculiarly awkward shape making it a real difficulty 

 to read it. It is however worth reading and studying and we hope it 

 will meet with attention from those who are in a position to form the 

 best estimate of it. 



In reference to the table of Monocotyledonese or Endogens, we may 

 state that the leading division into Exorhizal and Endorhizal appeared 

 to us a priori a good one, since it was once supposed that all Monocoty 

 ledonese were endorhizal, and when it was observed that many of them 

 were exorhizal, it would naturally be concluded that these latter ap- 

 proached the Dicotyiedonese, and were more highly developed than 

 the others, and this idea would correspond well with the facts, but for 

 the decision at which our author has ultimately arrived respecting 

 Palmaceee, which he places among the exoriiizals, whilst we feel irre- 

 sistibly compelled to give it a position near the grasses. Can he le 

 wrong on this point, respecting which he seems to have hesitated long 1 

 If not, such an anomaly of structure throws doubt on the value of 

 the character. There are fevv^ characters more important than 1^671- 

 ation, when it affords definite results. Now all palms, whether pin- 

 nately or palmately veined, have straight veins, simple with the least 

 possible cross connection. Arals, on the contrary, to which Mr. Clark 

 believes the palms allied, have a complex venation, showing an ap- 

 proach towards the boundary of Monocotyledonese, only their lowest 

 forms approximating to simplicity and parrallelism of venation. Com- 

 paring palms with grasses, the largest grasses approach to their aspect,. 



