508 Bateman^s Orchidacece. 



that will be effected by such associations, both to science and to 

 society, is far greater than can be at present foreseen. That 

 Edinburgh was ripe for something of this kind, is evident from 

 the great number of resident members, of the greatest respect- 

 abihty, who have all enlisted themselves under its banners, since 

 the commencement of the society, March 17. 1836. The original 

 founders are Drs. Graham, Greville, Neill, Balfour, Barry, and 

 Parnell ; and David Falconer, Esq., of Carlowrie. Dr. Graham 

 is President; W. H. Campbell, Esq., Secretary; and James 

 M'Nab, Esq., Superintendent of the Experimental Garden, 

 Curator. ^V\ve following extract will show the general views 

 and objects of the Society : — 



" It is intended that the Society shall turn its attention to the whole range 

 of botanical science, and such parts of other branches of natural history as 

 are more immediately connected with it. 



' It, is proposed to cultivate the knowledge of these, — 



" 1. By holding periodical meetings for the interchange of botanical inform- 

 ation ; for the reading of original papers, or translations, abstracts, or 

 reviews of botanical works, regarding any branch of botanical knowledge, 

 practical, physiological, or geographical J and the application of such know- 

 ledge to agriculture or the arts. 



" 2. By the formation in Edinburgh of an herbarium of foreign and 

 British plants, and of a library and museum for general consultation and 

 reference. 



" 3. By distributing annually amongst the members the duplicates received, 

 and thus contributing to the formation of authenticated herbaria wherever 

 the Society's correspondence extends, and affording to botanists at a distance 

 opportunities of comparison and reference as accurate as are enjoyed by 

 those having access to the herbarium in Edinburgh. 



" 4'. By printing and distributing along with their collections of duplicates 

 short annual reports, and inviting enquiries to doubtful questions. 



" 5. By printing, from time to time, catalogues of plants, with the view of 

 facilitating the study of their geographical distribution, and furthering the 

 principle of exchange. 



" 6. By making botanical excursions in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, 

 and to distant parts of Britain. 



" 7. By appointing local secretaries, from whom, in their respective districts, 

 all information regarding the Society's objects and proceedings may be 

 obtained." 



Art. IV. The Orchidacece of Mexico and Guatemala. By James 

 Bateman, Esq. Part I. Inap. folio. Ridgway and Sons, London, 

 1837. 



We have already (p. 224.) announced this work, and given 

 some account of what it is intended to contain ; and to this an- 

 nouncement, in the first place, we beg to refer our readers. We 

 have been favoured by the publisher with a view of Part I., 

 which may be described as by far the most splendid work of the 

 kind ever published in this or any other country. The ex- 

 ecution of the plates is not superior to some which have appeared 



