BENTHAM’S BRITISH FLORA. 
135 
It will be observed, in the above table, that English names are used. 
In the text the Latin name is also given, but appended to the English. 
We do not think this preference for bastard-English names—for they 
are often nothing more—is of any advantage to the student. It is as 
easy for the most unlettered person to learn to say “ Potentilla” as “ Po- 
tentil;” “Epilobium,” as “Epilobej” “Trientalis,” as “Trientale;” nor 
do we think these names improved in sound in their JBenthamic, we cannot 
call it Anglican, form. The author’s reasons for adopting English names 
are partly given in the Preface (p. xiv.), where a fuller explanation is 
promised to be shortly laid before the Linnsean Society, together with 
details on u the limitation, character, and synonyms of the genera and 
species.” If the introduction of barbarous names be a blemish, it is the 
chief one which we notice in the work, the plan and scope of which are 
excellent; and its general execution such as might be expected from a 
botanist of the ample experience and acumen of Mr. Bentham. The 
admirers of “critical species” will probably be distressed at finding 
many of their favourites erased altogether, or reduced to varieties ; but 
we at least are thankful to be permitted once more to call the Blackberry 
a Blackberry, instead of hunting it through six-and-thirty aliases; and 
to have but five wild roses to remember in stead of thirteen, although our 
Rosa Eiberniea be one of the slaughtered innocents. We have not 
critically examined Mr. Bentham’s excisions or reductions, but they 
amount to about five hundred,* 4 which, in a Elora so limited as the Bri¬ 
tish, is a tolerable item. When a Species Plantarum comes to be written 
on similarly comprehensive principles, we may reasonably hope to see 
the list diminished at least in equal proportion. 
The advanced botanist, as well as the intelligent student, will be 
pleased to find under each genus and species throughout the work a short 
notice of the geographical ranges. This is an important element in a 
Elora like that of the British islands, which contains so few strictly 
local forms, and is so largely composed of species having wide geogra¬ 
phical distribution. Those who are unacquainted with the elaborate 
“ Cybele Britannica” of Mr. Hewitt Watson will find this portion of the 
work peculiarly valuable. The Irish habitats are less fully given than 
we could desire; but this is the fault, not of Mr. Bentham, but of our 
Irish observers, who have yet to work out and make known the vege¬ 
table riches of a large portion of the island. We know that Mr. Bentham 
is very desirous of obtaining information of Irish habitats discovered 
since the publication of the “ Elora Hibernica,” in order to include them 
in a second edition. 
* In Babington’s “Manual” there are 1708 species; in Hook, and Arn. 1571; and 
in Bentham’s “ Handbook,” 1285. 
