42 
REVIEWS. 
of the standard work on British plant-distribution—Mr. Watson’s 
‘ Cybele’—should be adopted in preference to those of any of our 
Manuals. It would much facilitate reference and comparison, more 
especially if Mr. Watson’s consecutive numbering (that of the 
‘ London Catalogue of British Plants ’) were also made use of. In 
the case of forms, whether ‘species’ or ‘varieties,’ subordinate to or 
included in the species of the ‘ Cybele,’ their local distribution might 
be readily detailed under the head of their aggregate term. Thus 
the five Arctiums adopted from Mr. Babington would be treated, 
first, collectively under the Linnean A. Lappa, then singly. By the 
way, what are the cultivation-experiments referred to in the note 
signed ‘ N.’ (Mr. ISTewbould), apropos of this genus, which tend to 
show the ‘ species’ to be distinct P One cannot but regret that the 
results of such delicate experiments should not be more decisive, 
and, like those of Kirchoff and Bunsen in physics, settle irrevocably 
specific distinctness. There may, however, be more in them than we 
anticipate. 
Essex contains, according to Mr. Gibson, about 1070 species, 
native and naturalised, out of the 1725 included in Mr. Babington’s 
‘ Manual.’ Eour are peculiar to the county—viz. Lathyrus hirsutus 
and L. tuberosus, JBupleurum faleatum and Galium Vaillantii. Tole¬ 
rable figures are given of these species. The Lupleurum is regarded 
as truly indigenous, though confined to one station, where, however, 
it grows abundantly. 
Valuable appendices contain—Eirst. A table showing the date 
of the first recorded discoverer, the date of the earliest, and also, in 
many cases, of the most recent, notice of the rarer plants. Second. 
A list of Essex plants, showing (1) those generally distributed in 
the county; (2) those more or less local; and (3) the very local. 
Introduced species are italicised. Third. A tabular comparison of 
the Elora of Essex with those of Cambridge, Herts, Suffolk and 
Kent. Eourth. A comparison of the same with Mr. Watson’s 
Table in ‘ Cybele Britannica,’ showing the comparative frequency or 
rarity of the different British species. Appendix V. contains a list 
of plants not unlikely to be found in Essex, and another of lost 
plants which may be refound, eleven in number. Appendix VI. is 
biographical, with notices of John Kay, the late Edward Eorster,. 
and others who have contributed to the Elora of the county. 
