REVIEWS. 
209 
stand among those engaged in such pursuits. In conclusion, we hope, 
that if the return of better health permits him to remain— 
<pi\y tv 7rarpidi ycay — 
he may give us the benefit of his large experience, by taking up the 
subject of our native Coleoptera, for which he would be so eminently fitted. 
We who sojourn not in sunny foreign lands, would be helped by his assis¬ 
tance, would be taught by his knowledge, and would be spurred to greater 
endeavours by his kindness in thinking of individuals as well as of the 
scientific world at large. 
To such of our readers as love fine paper and beautiful typography, we 
can recommend this volume. Seldom have we seen a work which did 
more credit to the printer and publisher; but the contents will be found 
worthy of a fair outside. 
Class-book of Botany, being an Introduction to the study of the Vege¬ 
table Kingdom. By J. H. Balfour, M.D., F.R.S.E., F.L.S., Professor 
of Medicine and Botany in the University of Edinburgh. With upwards 
of 1,800 illustrations. Edinburgh: Adam and Charles Black. 1854. 
Price 21s. 
We have here a manual of botany such as we need not be ashamed to put 
into the hands of any student. It consists of five parts, the first of which, 
“ On Structural and Morphological Botany,” can be obtained in a volume 
by itself. It consists of an account of the cellular tissue, vascular tissue, 
the organs of nutrition or vegetation, of the functions of the nutritive 
organs, the organs of reproduction, &c. The second treats of Physiological 
Botany, and has thirteen chapters, containing—Remarks on the General 
Phenomena of Plant Life ; Chemistry of Vegetation; Physiology of the 
Elementary Tissues of Plants; Physiology of the Descending Axis or 
Root; Physiology of the Ascending Axis or Stem; Physiology of the 
Leaves; General Circulation or Movement of the Sap ; Physiology of the 
Flower; Physiology of the Fruit; Physiology of the Seed; Propagation 
of Plants by Buds and Slips ; Grafting; Development of Heat, Light, and 
Electricity, by Plants; Vegetable Nosology, or the Diseases and Injuries 
of Plants. The third part is on Taxological Botany, or the Classification 
of Plants, and contains general remarks on classification ; the Systems of 
Classification, and the Arrangement and Characters of the Natural Order; 
this chapter contains the characters of two hundred and seventy-six 
families of Plants, with the names of some of the more remarkable genera, 
and of the species, whenever noted for medicinal or other valuable qualities. 
This part, in common with the others, is profusely illustrated with wood 
