Remarks on the Flora Scotica of Tix! lriooV.eY. 151 
In a» Flora intended for common use, it is perhaps quite 
«nough to select, by way of description, those peculiarities 
which are eminently distinctive. Yet, in a more perfect work, 
it might be advisable to give ihe description of the species at 
full length ; because peculiarities of climate, soil, and situation, 
not unfrequently cause very remarkable deviations in the habit 
and form of plants, or of particular portions of them ; and any 
one who has compared the excellent descriptions of Smith, with 
real specimens of the plants of Scotland, must have found that 
points of discrepancy occur, not indeed essential, but such as 
might perplex the student, and prove interesting to the adept. 
Dr HookeFs descriptions, which are of the first or compendious 
kind, are generally excellent, yef not invariably so. In plants 
which are not liable to be mistaken, such as Alcliemilla rndgaris^ 
Butortius umhellatus, Monotropa Hypopitys^ Zostera marina^ 
Arum maculatum^ Adoxa moschatellina^ the descriptions are 
sometimes longer than those allotted to such as the Grasses, 
Epilobia, Gerania, Carices, Salices, which are peculiarly difficult 
to the beginner. It is, however, to be kept in mind, that mi- 
nute descriptions, deviating from the common plan, are neces- 
sary on occasions ; as when the plant has been confounded with 
others, or when a species has l^^en improperly divided into se- 
veral, or when there is some remarkable peculiarity in structure, 
or when the plant is exceedingly rare, or in genera difficult 
from their number of species. Thus in Agrostis alha^ Tus- 
silago petasites^ Farnassia palustris, Lmrifsa borealis, Carex 
and Salix. 
Remarks might now be made upon the numerous changes 
effected of late years among genera *, but this department could 
not be treated with sufficient brevity, the discussion involving 
subjects of primary importance in botanical criticism. On sur- 
veying the changes, however, which are daily taking place, one 
cannot but think, while he admits the propriety of many, that 
authors are rather too unsparing of the power which they as- 
sume; and that botany is ver^ng to a period when another 
Linnmus may be wanted to give a new consolidation and beauty 
to its rudis indigestaque moles. 
It now remains to consider the manner in which the vernacu- 
lar Names, Habitats, Localities, general remarks regarding Soil, 
