BOTANY. ` 
Boraxy Forry Years Aco.— In a Washington book-stall, was 
found not long since, a copy of a book, probably now becoming 
rare. ‘Flore Columbianze Prodromus Exhibens Enumerationem 
Plantarum que hactenus Explorate sunt: or A Prodromus of 
The Flora Columbiana, Exhibiting a List of All the Plants, which 
have as yet been Collected. Compiled by John A. Brereton, M.D., 
USA. Washington. Printed by Jonathan Elliot, and sold at his 
store on Pennsylvania Avenue, 1830.” 
The preface states that in 1825, was formed “The Botanic 
Club,” consisting of Wm. Mechlin, Wm. Rich, Alex. McWilliams, 
M.D., John A. Brereton, M.D., and James W. Robbins, M.D., 
having for its object “ to explore and to investigate, de novo, the 
indigenous plants growing in the District of Columbia. . 
As the result of five years’ exploration, this Prodromus is pub- 
lished, giving a list of four hundred and thirty-eight genera with 
nine hundred and nineteen species, a large number for one locality. 
But again quoting from the preface, ‘‘ The erudite Botanist will be 
astonished to perceive the names of several plants, in this Prodro- 
mus, which he is well aware, belong to other localities ; but when 
he considers the various and alpine sources of our majestic 
otomac, on whose stream their rudiments are borne, and deposited 
along its bank, his astonishment will cease.” The plants are ar- 
ranged according to the Linnæan System, while in an appendix is 
Siven * An Exposition of the Natural System of Jussieu.” 
This little work gives a pleasant picture of scientific interest and 
Rite: So long ago, and carries us back to the early days of Amer- 
‘an Botany. In the list of authors, we find no mention of the 
name of Dr. Gray (to-day it would be like the play of Hamlet with 
the part of Hamlet left out), but instead, Clayton, Walter, Michaux, 
m O 
j: 
y 
Mountai é -Pai 
p sntain Plover; Allen, western Kansas. 178a, Æ. melodus, Piping Plover; Baird. 
Tib, : inga Americana, Red- 
ii; Baird. 197a, 
venworth. 186a, Actodromas Bairdii; Ba f 
oss Hudsonica; Baird. 198a, Numenius Hudsonicus; Baird. 198b, N. = an 
ux Curlew; Allen, a single specimen seen. 202a, Gallinula galeata; Baird. 
emicla Hutchinsii; Baird. 226a, Mergus serrator; Baird. 56a,* Empidonax 
P; > Green-crested Flycatcher; Allen, E. Kansas. 76e,* Dendroica discolor, 
Prairie Warbler; Allen, E. Kansas. 122a, Coturniculus Henslowii, Hen: low’s Bunting; 
"noe, Topeka. 201a, Porzana Jamaicensis, Little Black Rail, Allen, wee 
