50 
REVIEWS OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury. London : Smith , Elder , 8? Co.$ 
Cornhill. 1838. No. i. 4to. 
This is an important work, as its aim is to put the British naturalist in pos¬ 
session of the history of the unknown or imperfectly-described animals of a little*- 
explored region replete with interest. It will be published in numbers, the insects 
being by Mr. Macleay, the rest of the animal kingdom by Dr. Smith. Govern¬ 
ment has granted a sum of money for exploring Central Africa, with an express 
view to this work. The same may be said of the Fauna Borealis Americana , 
by Dr. Richardson and Mr. Swainson, to which the present publication will, 
when completed, in all probability form a worthy companion. Ten species 
are figured, including quadrupeds, birds, fishes, and reptiles. The plates are 
lithographed by Messrs. Day and Haghe, and coloured. They are for the most 
part artistically executed, although we anticipate improvement in some points in 
future numbers. The accompanying descriptions are minute, and seem well 
drawn up. We shall return to this valuable work on receipt of the second part. 
For the present, let the ample “ temporary title,” transcribed above, suffice to 
impart all reasonable information respecting the nature of the undertaking. 
Flora Abredonensis ; comprehending a List of the Flowering Plants and Ferns 
found in the Neighbourhood of Aberdeen; with Remarks on the Climate, the 
Features of Vegetation, &c. &c. By George Dickie, A.M., M.R.C.S., F.B.S.E., 
&c. Aberdeen: Gray and Smith; A. and C. Black , Edinburgh; Whittaker 
and Co., London. 1838. post 8vo. pp. 75. 
The title-page explains the contents of the work, except in omitting to state 
that the particular localities of the rarer species are carefully noted. It is just 
what a local Flora ought to be in its plan, that is, short and of moderate price. 
These advantages are gained without the sacrifice of anything essential to such a 
work; the saving of type and paper, and consequent diminution of cost, being 
effected by the omission of descriptions and other matters found in all the general 
Floras of Britain. But we are sorry to observe one important defect, which 
might have been avoided by a very trifling addition to the cost of printing ; viz., 
a notice of the usual time of flowering of each species in the tract of country to 
which the Flora relates. If the author was unable to state this from his own 
experience, then he has published his book before he was entitled to do so on the 
score of knowledge. If a botanist has explored a district sufficiently well to 
present an accurate list of its productions, he must know the months in which 
they are to be found in flower; and we hold this information to be an important 
item in a local Flora. Notwithstanding this one defect, we are glad to welcome 
