NOTICES BY THE PRESS. 
[From Hunt's Merchants' Magazine, January, 1851.] 
Algje and Corallines of the Bay and Harbor of New York: 
Illustrated with Natural Types. By C. F. Durant. New York: 
George P. Putnam. 
A super-royal quarto on one of the most interesting branches of 
natural history. The sea-weeds and corallines of our Bay have been 
too long neglected; a subject so replete with interest and instruction, 
should long ago have engaged the attention of naturalist's. Mr. 
Durant is the first in this country to issue a book on the science of 
Algology, and it is believed to be the first book in any country wherein 
Algology is illustrated with natural types. Some nineteen families, 
comprising near two hundred species, are generically and critically 
described in the text, and then further illustrated by natural speci¬ 
mens of the most beautiful productions of nature. The work has 
required much industry, patience, and learning. Few men possess 
the courage to grapple with such a Herculean task, and we know of 
no other man so competent to do full and complete justice to the sub¬ 
ject. 
[From the Independent, January'Hd, 1851.] 
Alois, and Corallines of the Bay and Harbor of New York; 
Illustrated with Natural Types. By C. F. Durant. 
A curious and valuable work under the above title, has just been 
issued from the press of Mr. Putnam. The copy shown us has been 
presented by the author to the New York Typographical Society. It 
contains two hundred species of sea-plants, preserved and arranged 
in the most delicate and beautiful manner. The work will be a valu¬ 
able contribution to science, and an honor to the author and to the 
country. Price, one hundred dollars per copy. It should be in every 
public library. 
[From the New York Evening Express, Jan. 4, 1851.] 
Algjs and Corallines of the Bay and Harbor of New York. 
By C. F. Durant. 
By dint of hard labor and zealous devotedness to the task, Mr. 
Durant has collected together specimens of all the marine plants 
which grow in and around our harbor, and has pressed them in an 
elegant folio volume, splendidly bound and lettered, with indices, and 
a clear and instructive preface. The work is highly creditable to his 
scientific character, to his perseverance, and his taste. It may be 
seen at the bookstore of Mr. Putnam. 
[From Noah's Times and Messenger, Jan. 5, 1851.] 
A Great Work. —Amidst the numerous productions of the Ameri¬ 
can press, we are sometimes startled by a great and unexpected work, 
which developes new evidences of American skill, science, and enter¬ 
prise. Audubon’s great work on the ornithology of our country, sur¬ 
prised all Europe. Wilson’s work on the same subject—a most grace¬ 
ful, agreeable, and authentic research—ranks among the first'of our 
standard books. We have now another splendid issue, in quarto form, 
published bv Putnam, entitled “Atgce and Corallines of the Bay and 
Harbor of New York, illustrated with Natural 'Types: by C. F. 
Durant .” We have seen frequent specimens of corallines from rocks, 
bays, and harbors, beautifully drawn; but never before have we met 
with the originals, in all I heir natural beauty and delicacy, in a work 
scientifically illustated. We have long known Air. Durant as an enter¬ 
prising and intelligent citizen, of indomitable perseverance. If he de¬ 
sires to ascertain the currents of air above, and the temperature of the 
atmosphere, he ascends in a balloon to discover what he wishes to 
know practically. If he is smitten with the vegetable and delicale 
productions of the sea, the rocks, the inlets, and the estuaiies of our 
bay, he wades a thousand miles on our shores, makes his collections, 
illustrates and publishes his work, to the great pleasure and delight of 
the scientific. How he is to be repaid for the cost of the enterprise, 
we know not. One hundred dollars a volume must be the price, and 
two hundred copies must be sold, before the contingent expenses 
are paid. But what is that sum to our numerous wealthy patrons 
of art and genius ? 
[From the New York Commercial Advertiser, Jan. 10,1851. 
A Beautiful Volume. —We have had an opportunity of exar 
mg during the past week a very beautiful volume which has been i 
seated to the library of the New York Typographical Society by 
author and compiler. Its title is— 
Algje and Corallines of the Bay and Harbor of New York: 
Illustrated with Natural Types. By C. F. Durant. New York: 
G. P. Putnam. 
As the title indicates, the book is devoted to a science which, fora 
year or two, has attracted considerable attention in this vicinity— 
Algology, or the structure, habits and classification of algie, or sea¬ 
weeds. We have hetetofore had occasion to notice some fine pre¬ 
parations illustrative of the study; but we believe that this is the first 
attempt to collect and properly classify all the different species that 
are to be found in the waters of our harbor. Of the scientific depart¬ 
ment of Mr. Durant’s labors, we must leave those who are better 
versed in this department of natural history to speak. We can bear tes¬ 
timony to the industry and perseverance \\ hich he has displayed in this 
compilation. In his preface he says that the evenings of one season, 
with the hours that could be conveniently set apart from business, 
comprised all the time devoted to the work. Yet this time, in the 
aggregate, amounted to nearly two thousand hours, or two hundred 
working days of ten hours each, and the perambulations in the tidal 
waters and upon the sea shore, in search of the specimens, exceeded 
one thousand miles. 
The book is a large quarto, finely printed, containing about fifty 
pages of letter-press, devoted to an introductory treatise of the science, 
and a regular classification and description of the specimens, designa¬ 
ting them by numbers, by families and genera. The illustrations are 
the plants themselves, skilfully preserved in all their natural colors. 
We say plants, but with due deference, for we see that the author him¬ 
self, though adopting that designation, is at least half inclined to con¬ 
sider them as belonging rather to the animal than vegetable kingdom. 
The number of specimens of the alga; is 245. To these are added 
corallines of the harbor enough to make the whole number nearly three 
hundred. 
We understand that Mr. Durant has collected specimens sufficient 
to illustrate fifty copies of the work, though thdt now under consider¬ 
ation is the only one entirely finished. When completed, a portion 
of them will be for sale at the publisher’s. In the meantime the book 
may be examined at the Typographical Society, No. 300 Broadway, 
which is open every evening, Sundays excepted. 
S-From the New York Evening Mirror, Feb. 6, 1851.] 
DURANT’S AL GJE AND CORALLINES OF THE BAY AND 
HARBOR OF NEW YORK. 
The following Report and Resolution were submitted at a regular 
meeting of the New York Typographical Society, on the 1st inst., and 
ordered to be published. 
To the New York Typographical Society: 
Your Committee, having carefully discharged the duty assigned 
to them, respectfully report,— 
. Tiliat they have very closely examined the magnificent work placed 
in their hands, entitled “Algology,” presented to this Society, by 
Charles t. Durant, Esq., the author, and they are highly pleased 
to bear witness to the deserved praise which has been bestowed upon 
the book by the public press. As a specimen of the mechanical arts, 
the execution of the work is almost perfect; while as a monument of 
persevering devotion to a neglected branch of science, it is such as 
will do the author a lasting honor. 
I he obtaining and classifying of the almost numberless subaqueous 
plants of our noble bay, was a subject worthy of the genius of the ac¬ 
complished and distinguished citizen who began it; and we may rejoice 
that the public have cause of congratulation that the severe studies of 
Art have never alienated him from that spontaneous worship of Nature 
which is ever quick in the soul of true genius. 
Wj th ? ut tempting, a description of a work so unique and withal 
so difficult ot pen-portrayal, we would respectfully return the book to 
the Library, and at the same time recommend for adoption the fol¬ 
lowing resolution. 
Respectfully submitted. 
F. J. Ottarson, 1 
Daniel Northup, > Committee. 
Charles McDevitt. j 
Resolved, That the thanks of this Society be extended to C. F. 
ui.mt, Esq., l’oi his very valuable work—Algology—so generously 
presented to our Library. 6 J 
Published by order of the Society. 
R. H. Johnston, See’y. A. Cunningham, Pres’t. 
Also published in the Commercial Advertiser, February 7th; the 
Evening Post, teb. 7th, and the Courier and Enquirer, Feb. 8th. 
