306 Robert Brown. 



swarm in our ports and on our sea coasts, and which in the Silu- 

 rian Seas, no doubt formed a part of the food of the Crinoids and 

 Cystideans. 



We are glad to learn that this work is to be offered on sale at 

 a low price, and we hope that by this means it will find its way 

 into the hands of numerous collectors, who may by the discovery 

 of new species, and more complete specimens, assist in still farther 

 extending our knowledge of the subjects of which it treats. This 

 educational use alone will repay the publication of the work, and 

 we trust that its practical importance will be duly appreciated 

 when we state that a plate of one of these Cystideans no larger 

 than a kernel of wheat, might enable any one to distinguish a 

 silurian limestone from one belonging to the coal formation. 



ROBERT BROWN. 



The distinguished botanist died on Saturday last, at his house 

 in Dean Street, Soho, in the eighty-fifth year of his age. Though 

 less popularly known as a man of science than many of his con- 

 temporaries, those whose studies have enabled them to appreciate 

 the labours of Brown rank him altogether as the foremost scien- 

 tific man of this century. He takes this position not so much 

 from his extensive observations on the structure and habits of 

 plants, as from the philosophical insight and the power he display- 

 ed of applying the well-ascertained facts of one case to the expla- 

 nation of doubtful phenomena in a large series. Till his time 

 botany can scarcely be said to have had a scientific foundation. 



It consisted of a large number of ill-observed and badly-arranged 

 facts. By the use of the microscope and the conviction of the 

 necessity of studying the history of the developement of the plant 

 in order to ascertain its true structure and relations, Brown changed 

 the face of botany. He gave life and significance to that which 

 had been dull and purposeless. His influence was felt in every 

 direction : — the microscope became a necessary instrument in the 

 hands of the philosophical botanist, and the history of develope- 

 ment was the basis on which all improvement in classification was 

 carried on. This influence extended from the vegetable to the 

 animal kingdoms. The researches of Schleiden on the vegetable 

 cell, prompted by the observations of Brown, led to those of 

 Schwam on the animal cell ; and we may directly trace the pre- 

 sent position of animal physiology to the wonderful influence that 



