Neilgherry Plants. 143 



acquire a general knowledge of Botany, without diving at once into 

 the depths of the science. 



But we will allow the author himself to explain the object of the 

 publication in the following extract, and content ourselves with once 

 more recommending this excellent work to all those who would wish 

 to acquire a general knowledge of plants. 



" This work was undertaken partly to gratify the taste and wishes 

 of some friends who had an opportunity of examining the original 

 drawings, and who, thinking it would be a pity to throw away so 

 much labour and skill of the painter, by publishing them as uncoloured 

 outlines, urged the propriety of at least publishing a few coloured 

 sets, in case any of the purchasers of the Icones should wish to 

 colour their copies. The force of their arguments backed perhaps 

 by the promptings of an anticipated ready sale for the work, induced 

 me so far to depart from my original plan as to have 100 extra copies 

 struck off and coloured : the great expense of colouring preventing 

 my incurring the cost of a larger impression. 



Having gone so far, it then became necessary to endeavour to add 

 to their usefulness and interest by combining, in as popular a form 

 as I could, some account of the Botanical families to which they be- 

 long, and their connection with Alpine vegetation generally. 



This I soon found a more difficult task to execute than I antici- 

 pated, and, I greatly fear, the descriptive matter has become more 

 scientific than was consistent with my first intentions, or than is quite 

 suitable to the tastes and previous information of many of my readers. 

 I do not know that this need be a subject for regret, as possibly the 

 perusal of the following pages may prove the means of inclining some 

 persons to desire a deeper knowledge of the mysteries of the vege- 

 table organization and economy than they supply, and induce them 

 to have recourse to some of the more elementary works on Botany, 

 written expressly for the elucidation of such matters. 



Should such prove the case, I can, as the result of a good deal of 

 experience, promise them a most enduring " feast of reason and flow 

 of soul" of the purest, and, in the right direction, most elevating 

 kind ! For who can study the wonderful and mysterious operations 

 of life and endless adaptations of organization for the preservation, 

 not merely of the individual, but of the species without having his 

 soul elevated and purified, by being led through creation, to the con- 

 templation of the wisdom and attributes of the Almighty Creator of 

 all things, animate and inanimate. 



