142 Neilgherry Plants. 



We can recommend the work before us, with Wight's invaluable 

 plates, to persons who have little leisure for the study of Botany, as 

 affording, above all other books on Indian Botany, the greatest 

 possible knowledge of flowers at the least possible expense of time 

 and money. 



Sjpicilegium Neilgherrense, or a Selection of Neilgherry Plants. By 

 Robert Wight, M.D., F.L.S. 



The foregoing notice of an excellent and useful work, suggests a 

 similar one of another work, the object of which is also of a practical 

 nature as regards the plants of this country. If we have been slow 

 in noticing the work now alluded, it was from delicacy to the author 

 whose connection with this Journal renders it difficult to allude to 

 his unceasing labours, even in its pages, without terms of praise. 



The works of Dr. Wight are so closely identified with the Botany 

 of India, that it would be inexcusable in a Calcutta Journal of Natural 

 History, under any circumstances, to allow a new one to appear, for 

 any length of time, without at least introducing it with a few re- 

 marks. We may therefore briefly state, that the only objection to be 

 made to the Spicilegium Neilgherrense, is its title, which although 

 professing to give a selection merely from Neilgherry plants, yet the 

 work in reality affords examples, beautifully coloured, of the principal 

 families of plants commonly met with in every part of India. 



The principal families thus illustrated in the two parts now before 

 us, are Flacourtiacece, Malvacece, Aurantiacece, Guttiferce, Balsa- 

 minecs, Celastrinece, Leguminosece, Rosacea;, Myrtacece, Passiflorece, 

 and Rubiacea, with the several intermediate families. 



Indeed, all that can be considered to give the work a local character 

 as regards Neilgherry Plants, are a few additions of new species of 

 Ranunculacece, Umbellifera;, and a few other families which may be 

 said to belong more particularly to the hills, rather than the plains 

 of India. 



In this point of view, we can strongly recommend " Wight's 

 Neilgherry Plants" to all those who in India would wish to 



