TRANSLATIONS AND SELECTED ARTICLES. 219 



by an examination of the work itself. The descriptive catalogue of a 



collection of the crystalline rocks of Canada is the work of T. Sterry 



Hunt, F.R.S. They are arranged as belonging — 1st, to the Lauren- 



tian system ; 2ndly, to the Huronian series ; 3rdly, to the Silurian 



series ; and 4thly, intrusive rocks — under each of which heads the 



particular substances are enumerated, with their localities and very 



valuable remarks. The whole work is a credit to the country, and a 



model in its class, as the fine collection of which it gives an account 



has secured universal admiration amidst the wonders of the Great 



Exhibition, and will direct the thoughts of many intelligent men to 



one portion of the varied riches of our country. 



W. H. 



TRANSLATIONS AND SELECTED ARTICLES. 



RESEARCHES RESPECTING THE AFFINITIES OF STRUC- 

 TURE IN THE STEMS OF PLANTS BELONGING TO 

 THE GROUP " CYCLOSPERME^." 



BY M. REGNAULT. 



Translated from " Annales des Sciences Naturalles," lYeme Serie, Botanique, Tome xiv. 



No. 2, p. 73.* 



The knowledge of the principles upon which the classification of 

 vegetables must be founded, obtained up to the close of the last cen- 

 tury, has not merely led to a more methodical and more natural ar- 

 rangement, but has given to all parts of the science a vigorous im- 

 pulse, by clearly indicating the road which must be followed in fur- 

 ther researches. 



In truth, as the system was understood by its author, the natural 

 classification of vegetables should be founded on the consideration of 

 all the characters they furnish. Hence it might be justly said, that a 

 perfect classification would in a manner represent the whole science, 



* Our translation includes only the introductory remarks of the learned author, which 

 contain important general principles. His detailed observations, though highly interesting 

 and yaluable, our space will at present only permit us to refer to. 



