THE FLORA OF OXFORDSHIRE. 249 
The Flora of Oxfordshire: being a Topographical and Historical 
Account of the Flowering Plants and Ferns found in the County, 
with Sketches of the Progress of Oxfordshire Botany during the 
past three centuries. By Grorce Cxrartipce Deuce. Parker & 
Co.: Oxford and “par As 1886, 8vo, pp. lii. 451. 
No one acquainted with British botanical literature can open 
this latest addition © our county floras without being struck by the 
striking resemblance which it bears to the ‘Flora of Middlesex.’ 
Whether this is ftantional or accidental—and it seems too close to 
be the latter—Mr. Druce is sure to be the gainer by it. The 
eta worth of the ‘ Flora of Middlesex,’ apart from the original 
which it struck out, will always entitle it to a high place 
ine our local floras; and one is insensibly prejudiced in favour 
of a book which at once calls to mind in manner and method an 
is, eae. by no means confined to externals. In th sei 
ave the same ha us combination of personal yo ant 
bibliographical research whic h distinguished the former; and i 
ruce cannot claim with Messrs. Trimen and Dyer 
siblisiment of a new model for books of the kind, his volume vill 
0 good service in keeping before the eyes of the new generation 
of British Seapets the lines in which they should w 
The introduction of some fifty pages, after a erg and noe 
nder each species are given references eo ‘ Topographi 
Botany,’ Baxter’s ‘ Phenogamous Botan xford book), 
Nyman’s ‘ Conspectus,’ and the 8rd edition of  Huglish Botany. 
could wish that Nyman had been followed in his Sg of the 
genus Batrachium for the aquatic — especially as 
Druce has followed him in separating as gen ra Pulsatile, Githago, 
a ; 
Mr. Druce: in this manner, and with the aid o new ‘ London 
Catalogue,’ our nomenclature will undergo a "poasetal revolution, 
and the correct designations will gradually but surely make their 
way into ordinary botanical literature. We have always protested 
