fom his own manuscripts and other sources, the characters and descriptions of the plants which he had selected.

The well known zeal and learning of Dr. Smith induced the executors, with obvious propriety, to commit to him the care of perfecting the design of his deceased friend, and he has executed it with all the ability that the nature of his materials, and the conditions by which he was restricted, admitted of..

The first volume of the Flora, contains the descriptions and coloured figures of 100 plants arranged according to the Linnæan sys tem, from the genus corispermum, (monandria digynia,) to cenchrus (triandria digynia.) The engravings are executed by Sowerby in his very best manuer. The descriptions contain, the essential character; the synonyms of dioscorides, of the modern Greeks, of the Turks, and of modern scientific authors; the habitats; the description of the plant (properly so called ;) together with occasional observations, critical, medical, &e.

in the suc

The first part of the prodromus, includes the plants belonging to the five first classes: not only those which already have appeared in the present, or will appear ceeding volumes of the Flora, but those also which, though collected by Dr. Sibthorp in his two journeys, were not inserted by him aniong the thousand destined to

ART. IV. Plantarum Guianæ rariorum Auctore EDVARDO RUDGE, Soc. Reg. plates.

THE materials for this work (as we are informed in the preface,) came by the fortune of war into the possession of the present editor. A French merchant ship named

The

compose the larger work. number of the latter considerably exceeds the former, so that, if the whole may be judged of by the part before us, the number of species contained in the prodromus will amount to about 2,500.

As a specimen of the work we select the account of the following re-discovered species, from from the Tab. 33. Flora.

"VALERIANA DIOSCORIDIS. "Valeriana, floribus triandris, folis omnibus pinnatis: radicalium foliolis ovatis dentato-repandis, radice tuberosâ.

pov dioscoridis. Sibth.

Prope Limyrum fluvium lyciæ. D. Hau

kins.

Caulis

"Radix e tuberibus plurimis, carnosis, fusiformibus, odore aromatico, piperato, ferè valeriana officinalis nostratis, at minùs ingrato. Herba glabra. erectus, annuus, bipedalis, simplex, foliosus, teres, fistulosus. Folia radicalia, plurima, petiolata, lyrato-pinnata; pinis oppositis, sessilibus, ovatis, dentatorepandis, venosis, impari maximâ; caulina, opposita, pauca, sessilia, pinnata, pinnis sub-equalibus, lanceolatis, inæqualiter dentatis. Cyma terminalis, trichotoma, multiflora, thyrsoidea. Brac te lanceolata, acuminatæ. Flores car nei. Corolla infundibuliformis, ecalcarata, limbo ferè regulari. Stamina tria, æqualia.

་་

Anthera luteola. Stigma. implex. Semen extùs carinatum, intùs tricostatum, subpubescens, pappo radiato, plumoso. "Hæc est verè pou Dioscoridis, a nemi. ne botanicorum recentiorum ante Sibthorp detecta, et cujus locum in officinis Eurocinalis Linnæi." pæis jampridem usurpavit valeriana of

Icones et Descriptiones, hactenus inedita : et Linn. Soc. Lond. socio. vol. I. fol. 50

Union, laden with cotton and a superb collection of specimens of natural history, was captured by two British privateers, on her passage from Guiana to Europe. When the

prize arrived in the Thames, it was found that almost all the living plants were nearly ruined by the natural carelessness of the sailors, who for several weeks had given them scarcely a single drop of water. The whole of this part of the collection was therefore without delay transferred to the care of Mr. Aiton, of the royal garden at Kew, who by his consummate skill and ample command of means, was successful in restoring most of them to a state of health; after which they were purchased by the king, and added to the splendid collection of Kew.

But though the living part of the cargo had suffered so severely, the remainder, consisting of dried specimens of quadrupeds, birds, insects, and plants, was found to be in the highest perfection, and was accordingly disposed of by public auction. The individuals belong ing to the three former departments were divided among various purchasers, and are probably therefore lost to the scientific world: the herbarium, contained in eight large chests, was fortunately sold to Mr. Rudge, in conjunction with four other botanists, for the sum of 1501. It could not have fallen into better hands: Mr. Rudge, assisted by sir Jos. Banks, and Mr. Dryander, has carefully compared all the specimens of his valuable acquisition with those collected by Aublet, which now form a part of the magnificent herbarium of sir Joseph Banks. Such species as are decidedly new have been set aside by Mr. Rudge for publication; and the

ART. V. History of the Fuci. By DAWSON

IN our former volume we noticed the plan of this excellent work, as far as it had been developed in the first five numbers. The succeeding ones, as far as the 12th, are now before us, and well sustain the high and classical character of

volume now before us will enable the botanical world to judge of its obligations to the author for his public spirit. The descriptions are for the most part drawn up by himself, with the exception of a few remarks on the natural affinities of the plants from the learned pen of Mr. Salisbury. The figures are in outline, and rank among the very best that we are acquainted with: the organs of fructification and the more essential parts are represented by themselves on the lower part of each plate, being drawn with the utmost care from the originals after their natural form had been restored by maceration in hot water.

Of the fifty plants here figured, we find only one for which it has been necessary to construct a new genus. The name given to it by Mr. Salisbury, is Erisma: it belongs to the class and order Monandria Monogynia, and the following is the essential character. Calyx, quadripartitus, inæqualis. Petala, duo, inæqualia; superius, calyce confluens, basi corniculatum; inferius, disco pericarpii pone filamentum insertum. Fructus, dispermus.

The other species are 3 of Maranta, 6 of Piper, 2 of Hippocratea, 1 of Viola, 2 of Mnasium, 4 of Schoenus, 3 of Cyperus, 3 of Scirpus, 1 of Cenchrus, 1 of Paspalum, 3 of Panicum, 1 of Aristida, 3 of Ropala, 3 of Pothos, 1 of Trichomanes, 1 of Danæa, 2 of Solena, 1 of Psyschotria, 2 of Cephaelis, 1 of Schradera, 1 of Cordia, 1 of Bumelia, 1 of Bromelia, 1 of Cerbera, and I of Tillandsia.

TURNER, A. M. F. R. S. L. S. &c. 4to.

the publication. When the series. shall be terminated we shall indulge ourselves in a detailed survey of the whole, and in the mean while shall only record from time to time its progress towards completion.

IN the preface to this volume Mr. T. announces his intention of depositing at Mr. Reid's, stationer in Berwick, for any person who may wish to consult it, his hortus siccus, containing all the plants herein mentioned; which, if carried into effect, will merit commendation. The arfangement and genera of the Flora Britannica are implicitly adopted, and as the catalogue contains the

names and habitats, (and therefore the hortus siccus, the specimens) of 466 phænogamous, and 98 cryptogamous plants, almost all of common occurrence, those young botanists of Berwick, who undertake to study the science without the assistance of a master, will do well to avail themselves of Mr. Thompson's liberality.

NATURAL history and experimental science, requiring a vast accumulation of facts, are best promoted by the individual observations of a number of persons connected together in the common bond of voluntary association. association. Where the public attention is but newly directed to these objects a single society may be sufficient to collect into one focus all the scattered rays of information that emanate from a whole country, as was for many years the case with our own Royal Society. But when the number of enquirers is greatly increased, new societies will naturally spring up, either having the same general objects in view as the criginal institution, or, (which on every account is greatly to be preferred) aiming at the peculiar illustration of one particular branch of knowledge. It was from this latter principle that the Linnean Society originated; and the high value of its transactions (at the same time that those of the Royal Society have undergone no deterioration) is a convincing proof of the rapid progress of philosophical enquiry, and a full justification of the wisdom and abilities of those by whom this younger institution was founded.

The entomological society may be considered as an off-set of the Linnean, and, no doubt, is founded

on the supposition that the vast extent and importance of entomological investigations in England can only be adequately attended to by a society peculiarly devoted to this express object. But we believe that the authors of this society, however pure may be their motives, and we have no reason to attribute any unworthy ones to them, are, in point of fact, entirely mistaken. It is not probable that those able entomologists who are at present aggregated to the Linnean Society, in the transactions of which their investi. gations bear so distinguished a rank, shouldbe tempted to secede from the institution with which they are already connected; and a society that is every year deriving from its labours new respectability and importance, will naturally be preferred by rising merit, where no particular bias interferes, to one of similar pursuits but inferior ability.

The present publication contains the bye-laws of the society, (but no list of members) together with five memoirs. The objects of the Entomological Society are expressed in the first section of the laws, which we shall therefore transcribe.

"The pursuits of this Society are directed towards the study of the science of Entomology, more especially of those species of Insects found in Great Britain; the ascertaining of their names and distincti

ons, their native countries, the particular times of their appearance, their localities, their food, economy, and peculiarities; pointing out the readiest and most desirable methods of destroying those which possess noxious properties; and making known, as far as possible, those properties, which may either prove useful to science, or beneficial to mankind."

The first memoir is from the pen of the president, A. H. Haworth, Esq. F.L.S. and is intitled,

1. A review of the rise and progress of Entomology in Great Britain, chronologically digested.

The period here included is from the year 1634, in which Mouffet published his "Theatrum insectorum," to the present time. We are sorry that we cannot speak with much commendation of this memoir: the plan of it is bad, inasmuch as an appendix is subjoined, containing four articles which ought to have been distributed in their proper places in the body of the work. Secondly, no particular notice is taken of the numerous and valuable papers on subjects of entomology contained in the transac tions of the Royal and Linnæan societies: thirdly, the publications that are taken notice of, are so inadequately described as to give a very imperfect idea either of their contents or their relative value; lastly, the list of writers and their works is incomplete, and in some respects inaccurate. The date of Ray's Methodus Insectorum (1705) is omitted. In Dr. Hill's edition of Swammerdam, the translation was the work of Floyd, the notes only being written by the editor. Curtis's translation of the Fundamenta entomologiæ was published in 1772. The following works are omitted in Mr. Haworth's list :-

A Treatise of Buggs, by J. Southall, 8vo. 1730.

An Account of English Ants, by W. Gould, 8vo. 1747.

A new and complete History of English Moths, by James Dutfield,

1748. (Of this work only the first six numbers were published.)

Engravings of Insects, with Descriptions, by J. Miller, 10 plates in folio, 1759 (an unfinished work.)

Instructions for collecting and preserving Insects, by W. Curtis, 1771.

Method of catching and preserving Insects, by J. Ellis, 1771.

Sixteen Letters to Sir Joseph Banks, on the Cochineal of Madras, by James Anderson, Svo. 1787. 2. On rearing Insects. By the Rev. T. Skrimshire, L.L.B. and F. E. S.

The substance of this short paper is contained in the following

extract.

"For the purpose of rearing Insects from the egg to the perfect state, I have procured a number of tin boxes, about two inches square, two sides of which, with the top and bottom, are of tin perforated with small holes ; the remaining two sides are glazed one of the tin sides constitutes of these are placed in a wooden trough, a door, which slides in a groove. Twelve partitioned off for each box, about inch deep, and made perfectly water tight. Only one Caterpillar, or a brood, is placed in each of these boxes, which are numbered. A book is kept numbered to correspond with the boxes, in which is entered the history of the Insect, from the day that it is placed in its box. water is poured into each partition of the food moist, as also the earth which is put wooden trough, which serves to keep the in the tin boxes, that the Caterpillar may undergo its metamorphosis in the most natural manner. I have observed that many of the pupa have died in the earth; this, I conceive, in a great measure, is owing to the earth binding so hard round them, as to prevent perspiration and breathing. I have therefore procured a looser kind of earth from a decayed tree, which I have mixed with equal proportions of sand and sawdust."

A little

3. On the Lygaus micropterus. By the Rev. J. Burrell, A. M. F.L.S. F. E. S.

This is a new species, remarkable for the shortness of its wings, so

that it might readily be supposed not to have attained its perfect state, if several pairs had not been taken by Mr. B. The following is the specific character assigned to it by the discoverer,

Lygæus; viridis, Elytris venis duabus et margine interioribus ru bris.

4. A brief Account of some rare and interesting Insects, not hitherto announced as Inhabitants of Great Britain. By A. H. Haworth, F.L.S. F. H. S. and P. E. S.

Of the species here noticed, some are merely new to the Fauna of Britin, and have probably been only recently introduced into the country, others are entirely new or rather undescribed species. Of the former, the following is a list, according to the Fabrician nomenclature. Geotrupes nasicornis. A single specimen was taken anve some time ago at Chelsea, among old timber.

Lucanus Dorcas. Taken at the same time and place as the preceding.

Aphodius tristis

ictericus

Trichius variabilis
Apate Capucinus
Necrophorus bimaculatus
Stenocorus quadrimaculatus.

this South American insect a single living specimen was lately taken in the county of Essex by a countryman. Lamia dentator.-A native of Carolina. One specimen was taken alive in the year 1806, in the area of a house in Hoxton. Donacia zosteræ Hydrophylus marginellus melanocephalus

Elophorus marinus

Silpha bicolor.

Niger, elytris punctatis ferrugineis, lineis tribus elevatis. Taken in Yorkshire.

5. A Catalogue of Insects found in Norfolk. By the Rev. J. Burrell, A. M. F. L. S. F. E. S.

This catalogue as yet only includes 53 species of Scarabæus, 2 of Lucanus, and 2 of Ips.

It may be remarked that the whole work is deformed by nume rous typographical errors.