HANDBOOK OF THE BRITISH FLORA. 185 
which has been reached by some of the more recent county floras. 
The comparative absence of minute examination of the works of our 
earlier writers and of biographical details is perhaps noticeable 
i n 
rather because of the care ay 
elaborated by others tha consequence of their essential im- 
an But the critical genera seem to have received inadequate 
as in the note upon Capsella, where seven forms are named and 
described, Unfortunately, however, there is a confusion of terms 
in the note which makes it difficult to follow the author’s meaning, 
and he himself seems to think the characters laid down of no 
I 
The most striking feature of the book is undoubtedly to be found 
in the attention given to the cellular plants, especially to the Alge, 
which are undertaken by Mr. F. Bates. So far as we are aware, 
no local flora has hitherto contained so elaborate an account of this 
————— 
Handbook of the British Flora. By Georce Benrnam. Fifth 
edition, revised by Sir J. D. Hooker. 8vo, pp. Ixxx. 584. 
London: L. Reeve. Price 10s. 6d. 
Tae names of these two illustrious botanists, who will always be 
associated with the ‘ Genera Plantarum,’ are now found together in 
date, as no one could go well realise the position which Mr. Bentham 
would have taken with regard to the more recent additions to our 
Flora. The present volume contains all that has tended to render 
former editions popular text-books, chiefly among which must be 
reckoned the excellent ‘ keys” to the species; with a great deal of 
added matter, distinguished by its inclusion in square brackets. 
The new ‘Handbook’ will certainly be useful to many, 
especially to beginners, but we should be inclined to doubt whether 
it will not to some extent interfere with the sale of the ‘ Student’s 
Flora.’ This, however, is not our affair. We should like to have 
