REVIEWS. 
101 
We have written some of the above remarks with regret, entertaining, 
as we do, a very great respect for Mr. Stainton’s praiseworthy zeal; but, 
honestly considering his system of nomenclature as calculated only to lead 
the beginner astray, we could not keep silence. We are not presumptuous 
enough to expect that this review will lead him to alter that system, how¬ 
ever we might desire it; but we would earnestly ask him to consult some 
of the chief entomologists on the subject, and should they give similar 
advice, and should he then follow it, we shall have no hesitation in saying', 
that the “Manual” is not only the cheapest, but the most useful and va¬ 
luable work we have on British Lepidoptera. 
When the work has been completed we shall have the pleasure of again 
calling our readers’ attention to it. 
Ferns of Great Britain. Illustrated by John E. Sowerby: the Descrip¬ 
tions, &c., by Charles Johnson. 8vo. cloth boards. 48 Plates (plain), 
and Coloured Frontispiece. Price 6s. 
Fern Allies.—-A Supplement to the above. 8vo. Flexible Boards, 
containing 31 Plates. Full Coloured, 18s. Partly do., 9s. 
British Poisonous Plants. By Charles Johnson. Illustrated with 28 
Plates, transferred to Stone, from Sowerby’s English Botany. Crown 
8vo. Flexible Boards. Full Coloured, 7s. : Plain, 5s. John E. 
Sowerby, 3, Mead Place, Lambeth. 1856. 
About twelve months since we noticed in favourable terms the “ Ferns 
of Great Britain,” when we gave it as our opinion that, owing to the faith¬ 
fulness of the illustration, and its other merits, the work would not be long 
absent from the libraries of all our English Botanists. Now, we think 
that as circumstances (disagreeable ones), into which we shall not enter, 
as we much prefer to let the dark clouds of oblivion lie over them, have 
induced the author to republish this volume at a price so very small 
it will be an universal favourite among every one who takes an interest 
in this study. We confess to have been amazed when we discovered the 
price of this volume. With forty-eight plates, and a coloured frontispiece 
of Blechnum boreale, all for the sum of six shillings; and we fancy that 
the very announcement of this fact should be inducement enough for every 
one to buy it, particularly when we say, once more, that the plates are 
(with an exception or two), faithful representatives of nature, and that the 
descriptive letter-press is quite sufficient for all useful purposes, and is by 
no means deficient in literary merit. 
