244 REVIEWS. 



of taste, and from a preference for simplicity in conveying an idea, 

 gamopetalous and dialypetalous, though they are greatly to be pre- 

 ferred to the old terms ; but why not use Sympetalous and apopeta- 

 Igus, with the corresponding terms for the several circles of the 

 flower, observing, however, that Syncarpous, which is often employed, 

 is only truly applicable to the case of the union of whole fruits, as 

 in our pretty American twin-berry (Mitchella repens). To express 

 union or separation of the portions of the fruit of one flower, we 

 must employ Syncarpellous, apodm'pellous, and let us be rid, except 

 in Linneean phraseology, of the term pistil, which is so specially 

 liable to misconception and abuse. Again, the plan strongly insisted 

 upon by Lindley, of naming all Orders from a type genus by an ad- 

 jective ending in acece, has such obvious and decided advantages, that 

 we are almost disposed to be angry with those botanists who will still 

 obstinately use the other terminations, given accidentally, or from 

 regard to sound only, before this improvement was thought of, and 

 will cling to TJmbelliferce, Cruciferce, &c., when the better method is 

 before them. Mr. Clarice is a sinner in these matters, and should 

 not think them beneath his attention. We have last spoken of an 

 improvement in the expression of Botanical affinities, by Dr. Lindley, 

 but that great botanist was, in other matters, an adherent of the 

 terminology which expressed the mistaken ideas of preceding times 

 to an extent which greatly injures his descriptions of plants, and 

 which is very conspicuous in his otherwise useful work, " Descriptive 

 Botany." We part, for the present, from Mr. Clarke's book, with 

 the observation that we believe there is much good in it, and that it 

 well deserves study ; but our own faith is in finding out the leading 

 types of vegetable structure, and subdividing each of these so as to 

 have groups analogous with each of the primary types, and so on in 

 farther subdivision ; whilst the attempt to show the derivation of each 

 section, and to trace the various groups to their origin in lower forms, 

 we must declare to be thus far utterly unsatisfactory, and to hold 

 forth no rational promise of better success in future W. H. 



Catalogue of Birds hnoion to Inhabit Western Canada, systemati- 

 cally arranged according to the method adopted in the Museum of 

 the TJnivei-sity of Toronto. By the Rev.W. Hincks, F.L.S., &c.. 

 Professor of Natural History, University College, Toronto. 



