M6 RemarJi’s 07i the Flora Scotica ofDi' Hooker. 
practice is not deemed the most eligible, the intention of the 
writer being merely to point out, in this particular work, the 
deficiency or completion in the fulfilment of its professed design,^ 
in the course of which observations of a less limited nature will 
be elicited. 
The Flora Scptica of Dr Hooker professes to be simply a 
Description of Scottish plants, arranged both according to the 
Artificial and Natural Methods.” Viewed in this light only, its 
merits must be evident to every one tolerably skilled in the 
science. It not only comprehends a greater number of species 
than the Flora Scotica of Lightfoot, or the more perfect Flora 
Britannica of Smith, considering the latter wnrk in regard to its 
connection with Scotland ; but has the superior merit of more 
accurately defined characters, of a judicious change in the ar- 
rangement of genera under their respective classes, of species 
under their genera, and of the adoption of the numerous im- 
provements in nomenclature, description, and generic and spe- 
cific discrimination, to which the botanists of our own island 
have so essentially contributed. Some objections, however, are 
to be made, even in reference to those points, which will appear 
in due time. Perhaps, after giving an accurate account of the 
genera and species, according to the Linncan Artificial method, 
it might have been sufficient to have conducted the Natural 
arrangement, which constitutes the second part of the work, 
in a more compendious manner than that used. And when 
it is considered that the genera of the Linnean system are, 
and must be natural *, however the artificial character may 
be constructed ; it cannot but strike us, that in such a work it 
would be better to arrange the genera under the natural orders, 
without the unnecessary repetition of generic, much less of spe- 
cific characters. But allowing that the generic characters in 
the natural method, might with propi iety enough be delineated, 
* Genus omne est naturale, in priinordio tale creatura, hinc pro lubitu, et secun- 
dum cujuscunque theoriam non proterve discindendum aut conglutinandum.— 
PhiL Bot. 
Character naturalis basis est omnium systematum, generum infallibilis custos, 
omniqqe systemati possibili et vero applicabilis.--.PA?7, Bot 
