342 REVIEWS— INTRODUCTION TO CRYPTOGAMIC BOTANY. , 



session of our Canadian Parliament, from the pen of our Provincial 

 Viceroy, and furnisti a welcome example of relaxation amid the cares 

 and responsibilities of Grovernment, thus found among ourselves in 

 the delightful seductions of scientific speculation and literary research. 



D. W. 



Introduction to Ci'yptogamic Botany : By the Rev. M. J. Berkeley, 

 M.A., F.L.S. London : H. Bailliere, 219 Eegent-st., 1857. 



A publication relating to Cryptogamic Botany, bearing Mr. 

 Berkeley's name, cannot but be received by all students and 

 amateurs of that branch of science with great expectation and deep 

 interest. His profound knowledge, long experience, and discrimi- 

 nating judgment in respect to some of the most difficult sections of 

 the department he has undertaken to illustrate have been abundantly 

 proved ; and, whilst there can scarcely be a higher authority than 

 his, or a guidance better fitted to inspire confidence, there is hardly 

 any branch of knowledge in which the want of assistance is more felt, 

 or in which it is more eagerly sought by those who are determined 

 seriously to apply to the subject. 



Eor many years past, few have commenced the attempt to pene- 

 trate the mysteries of cryptogamic vegetation without having 

 recourse to a work with a title similar to our author's, by the learned 

 Kurt Sprengel, author of the Historia Rei Herbarige, and of a valu- 

 able edition of the Systema Vegetabilium. When it is stated that 

 the English translation of this work was first published in 1807, the 

 last edition in 1818, we need not wonder, that, though excellent in 

 its time, it has of late years been felt to be out of date and that the 

 supply of something better adapted to the present state of science 

 was an acknowledged desideratum. It was one, however, from which 

 a mere compiler would shrink in despair, and to the various require- 

 ments of which few of our ablest men could hope to do justice. It 

 will be generally agreed that the work has fallen into good hands, 

 and that we have here " the right man in the right place." In short, 

 wherever there is a cryptogamic student, Mr. Berkeley's book will 

 be eagerly sought after, and those who do not yet possess it will be 

 glad to know something of what they may expect. -The first chapter 

 is devoted to the distinction between the subjects of the work and 

 the rest of the vegetable kingdom, and the name proper to be applied 



