138 THE FLORIST AND 



which can for a moment be compared with Dr. Leidy's copious and excellent 

 figures;" and in conclusion, it is kindly admitted that the author " is 

 evidently an original observer, though not perhaps completely au courant 

 in European publications." 



No fault can properly be found with the concluding compliment, as, to be 

 an "original observer" is doubtless, from the absence of rivalry, a position 

 which deserves the highest regard and consideration from those whose 

 principal labors are in the copious and well explored field of compilation, 

 and who may be thus supposed to be " au courant " not only in European 

 but also in American publications. 



Our present purpose is with the remarkable errors contained in the two 

 extracts first given. 



It is a singular fact, but one worthy of attention by all compilers, that 

 among " original observers," the date at which observations are made known 

 is frequently of importance in tracing the history of investigations, and that 

 a reviewer (who is perhaps to be looked upon as a higher development of 

 compiler, in so far as his compilations must be very judiciously condensed 

 to avoid tedium) is not justified in simply casting his eye over illustrations 

 of a work, and becoming familiar with the names of the draughtsman and 

 engraver. 



As a consequence of the neglect of looking at the text of either Dr. Leidy 

 or Mr. Robin on these entophyta, Professor Lindley has, in his haste to be 

 " au courant" neglected to observe that Mr. Robin's book was published 

 several years later (1853) than the first descriptions of the species contained 

 in the memoir reviewed by him,* and that the account given by Mr. Robin 

 is taken entirely from the American "original observer," and finally, 

 that Mr. Robin has added to the Enterobryus, one of the five genera made 

 known in the American memoir, a single new European species. 



We have assumed that Professor Lindley is responsible for these perver- 

 sions; the magazine in which the review appeared is edited by him, and 

 unless some authorship is indicated, the editor must be held accountable for 

 what is issued under the sanction of his name. 



In placing these facts without comment before the readers of the Florist, 

 we are acting merely from a sense of justice, and are far from supposing 

 that any effect will result. The " horizon of brass about the size of an 

 umbrella," to borrow an expression of Mr. Emerson's, which limits the 

 vision of many of our transatlantic neighbors, may reflect tolerable images 



♦Vide Proceedings Acad. Nat. Sciences of Philadelphia, vol. 4, 1849. 



