talents; but who might have greatly improved his performances, had he been directed in proper time, to the latest and most correct works, on the subjects which he has undertaken to illustrate.

We understand that the author of this anonymous manual is Mr. Eaton, lecturer on Botany and Natural History, first in Yale College at New-Haven, now in Williams' College in Massachusetts. He published last year at New-Haven in Connecticut, a translation of Richards's Dictionary of the terms of Botany, which will be found a useful work, notwithstanding that it is sixteen years backwards in point of improvement, the period that has elapsed between the publication and translation of the work. The additions introduced into it by Mr. E. are very inconsiderable, and he appears to have had no knowledge of many eminent works published since 1800, (period of Richards's publication,) in which numberless improvements in Glossology, or the language of Botany, have been introduced, such as Philibert's Dictionary, Fontenelle's Dictionary, Link's Elements, Decandolle's Theory, Mirbel's Elements, Wildenow's Principles of Botany, &c. besides his Cryptogamy, and the partial improvements of Correa, Desvaux, Persoon, Acharius, Brown, Rafinesque, &c. None of the parts of Botany or any other science can remain stationary in Europe, particularly during 16 years; and this must not be forgotten by those who shall endeavour to transmit to us the scientific knowledge of continental Europe. Let us not imitate England, who adopts with reluctance, and after long periods, the improvements and discoveries of her neighbours; but let us avail ourselves at once of all those that have been, or may hereafter be made, else we shall never be on a level with those nations, by whom they are adopted and fostered.

This manual of Botany deserves at least its name, being of a small and appropriate size, closely printed and with many abbreviations. So far the author has been consistent, since he has included in a few sheets, what might have been enlarged into a thick volume, by those who are prone to swell their labours, in the hope or belief that they may be esteemed in proportion to their bulk and weight!

The genera and species of this manual are of course enumerated according to the sexual system of Linnæus, with the trivial corrections of Persoon. This unnatural, incorrect, difficult, puzzling, indelicate and obsolete system, prevails as yet in the U. S. and having been adopted

in the two Floras of Michaux and Pursh, who appear to carry a greater authority than they deserve, will probably be taught and followed for a short period to come, or until a new Flora of the U. S. shall be undertaken on the plan of Decandollo's French Flora and Species plantarum, when it will of course be superseded by the natural method, which (by Linnæus's own confession) exceeds as much the sexual system, as this system exceeds all others. When it is recollected that the system of Linnæus, although published about 1733, was not adopted in England and America, until about forty years afterwards, and that the natural method of Jessieu, (since improved by Brown, Decandolle, and Rafinesque,) published in 1789, is merely beginning to dawn in England, through the exertions of the illustrious Robert Brown, it will not appear strange, that the U. S. should not have yet followed the example of the continent of Europe, where it begins to be in general use. We are however happy to observe, that even with us, Messrs. Correa and Rafinesque are endeavouring to introduce and teach the method of nature, and Mr. E. has with much propriety noticed to which of the orders of Jessieu, every genus belongs. He has likewise added a reference to the natural orders of Linnæus.

By the title of this manual, we were led to expect, that all the plants of the states north of Virginia, were to be described or at least to be enumerated; but such is not the case. Only the genera are described, a few species of each Phenogamous genus and Ferns, (particularly such species as are found in Connecticut and Massachusetts,) and only one species of every other Cryptogamous genus;the whole might have been added with great propriety, and it would not have much swelled the volume. By this addition we should have had a complete manual guide for Herborisations, &c. much cheaper and less bulky than Pursh; but now, many plants will be found by the student and the Botanist in their walks, and excursions, which they will be unable to find in this manual; but let them not on that account think that they are new.

Nearly 1400 species are however enumerated, and distinguished by shon definitions, many of which will unhappily apply to several species, whence students may be led into error. Several of the species are exotics in general cultivation; they are a proper appendage, and are distinguished by the letter e. It is very much

first time in Mr. Green's Catalogue of the Plants of the State of New-York.

Sp. 3. “Hydnum chrysorhizon, p. 140. Paper Punk. Membranaceous, flat, spreading, stemless, root yellow filiform, extending along the grains of decaying timber. Discovered by Mr. Torrey." It must belong to the genus Odontium of Rafinesque: Odontia section of Per

soon.

Var. 1. "Anthoxanthum odoratum var. altissimum. Larger, and of a darker green: found by Dr. Ives."

Var. 2. "Hepatica triloba var. acuta. Calyx leaves acute, leaves 3 to 5 lobed acute. Perhaps this variety ought to constitute a new species. The specimen found by Professor Dewey, near Williams' College, are much firmer in their texture than the common kind, and differ materially in their general habit.

Var. 3. "Prunella pensylvanica, var. ovata and varlanceolata, two varieties with ovate and lanceolate leaves."

The author has introduced very few of the new species of Pursh, and other late writers; he has however adopted the two new species of Dr. Bigelow, the Iris gracilis and the Bunias edentula; but only one of the new species of Rafinesque, the Vicia mitchelli: On this occasion he has fallen into two singular mistakes. 1st. He asserts that this last plant was found last summer by Dr. Mitchill, and named so by C. S. Rafinesque, while it was sent by Dr. Mitchill to him in Philadelphia, in 1803, and described by him as such in 1814, in a pamphlet which bears the title of Precis des Descouvertes Somiologiques, &c. and in which 5 new genera and 40 new species of American plants are described. 2d. He gives to Mr. Rafinesque the title of an Italian naturalist. Of the title of a naturalist we believe Mr. R. will always be proud, but he never dreamt of being an Italian, any more than the American citizens who travel and reside in various parts of Italy! If these were to be taken as a standard of Mr. E's accuracy, we are sorry to say that it would give us a very unfavourable opinion of it.

We shall endeavour to state some other errors scattered through this work; we presume they are in greater number than we have been able to detect on attentive perusal; but such as have fallen under our observation, will convey a ge.neral idea of their nature.

The Physalis alkekengi of Mr. E. must be some other species of Physalis, since that species does not grow in America; or it may be the cultivated European plant, which ought to have been stated; VOL, I. NO. VI.

it is described with geminated, entire acute leaves, which does not answer to any American species we are acquainted with.

The Martynia proboscidea is not a native of the northern states; it has never been found above the Potomac, and even there it appears naturalized.

The Betula lenta var. lutea or yellow birch, is probably the B. excelsa of Wildenow and Pursh.

Mr. E. has omitted to notice as exotics the following plants, Rosmarinus officinalis, Dionea muscipula (native of NorthCarolina only), Hortensia Speciosa, Gor donia franklini, Ficus carica, &c.

He has two genera with double names! which is an unaccountable blunder, viz. Limnetis or Dactylis ! and Bartonia or Centaurella! In the first instance, Dactylis is the real name, Limnetis being a different genus which he has called on the authority of Roth by the erroneous name of Spurtina, a diminutive of Spartium. In the second instance, Bartonia is the real name, Centaurella being erroneous, as it is a diminutive of Centaurea.

He has not adopted the good genera of Chimaphila Pursh, and Hedeosma Persoon; but he has adopted the erroneous generic denomination of Orizopsis Michaux, derived from Oriza, which Rafinesque has changed in Dilepyrum since 1308, and Fluvialis Persoon, too much like an adjective, and previously named Cavolinia by Wildenow and Decandolle: also Diphascum similar to Phascum, which must be changed in Diphas.

He has changed the name of Clitoria into Vexillaria, on the authority of Sir James Smith's criticism, who however did not venture on such a change; but as it happens that this new name is good, and that the genus Clitoria must be divided in two distinct genera, we shall adopt it for one of them.

Cymbidium corallorhizon is again introduced in the American Flora, after being left off by Pursh, and is distinguished from the C. odontorhizon, by its oblong acute and undivided lip; both are stated to have a white leafless sheathed stem. We apprehend there is here an oversight, or a new species is probably meant; wę know of a third one unnoticed by Pursh, which has yellow stems, and a spotted elliptic obtuse crenate lip. We think those plants may form a peculiar genus very distinct from Cymbidium, to which the name of Cladorhiza may be given: our new species shall be called Cl. macu lata.

The Satyrium bracteatum of Wildenow
SI

and Persoon, but omitted by Pursh, is adopted: this is probably right.

Two species of Vallisneria are noticed as follows. 1. V. Americana (Tape grass) leaves linear, peduncles straight. 2. V. Spiralis, peduncle of the fruit spiral, leaves linear with tapering base. We doubt of the identity or existence of this last, as stated; we should have liked to know on what authority it is admitted. Pursh has not found it, nor did we ever hear of it till now; if really distinct from the V. Americana, it will be probably another new species.

The Xylostroma gigantea (Leather punk or Oak leather) with parallel fibres, filling the interstices between the cleavages of decaying wood; is well known to us as different from the European species: many species are probably blended under the vulgar denomination of Punk; and they deserve to be studied.

Many errors of the press are besides to be noticed over the whole work; but for these the author is not to be blamed, since he declares that he lives at a distance from Albany. It is much to be regretted, that our printers should be so ignorant, and not yet in the habit of employing enlightened correctors, whence it arises that very few, if any, works on physical and mathematical sciences, are printed correctly in the United States.

The whole of this manual is written in our vernacular language, an example worthy of imitation in local works; but unfortunately the technical language of Botany is not yet thoroughly fixed with us, notwithstanding the labours of Martyn, Milne, Smith, Barton, and even Mr. Eaton, as they are in the Latin and French languages: many terms are arbitrary for want of a translator of paramount authority. Mr. E. has followed his own translation, but many of his terms appear rather awkward and at variance with the above authors; we shall not, however, undertake at present to criticise them, lest our attempt might be deemed preposterous.

Any endeavour to elucidate the subject of American cryptogamy, must be welcome to the lovers of Botany, while the subject remains so deeply involved in obscurity; they will therefore receive with pleasure the first attempt of Mr. E. who has begun to illustrate the whole subject, by giving us the genera nearly complete,

with one or two species of each genus, He acknowledges that he has compiled this part from various modern authors; the Mosses from Sprengel, the Lichens from Acharius, the Fungi from Turton, &c.; but as the species amounting to C, exclusive of ferns, have all been found in the New-England states, they become a new addition to our Flora: whence we

consider that their enumeration may be deemed a valuable supplement to that little work, and regret it could not be more extended at present. But we hope, that in a future edition, such as the author appears to have in contemplation, he will not forget his promise to enumerate all the plants of the northern states, including the cryptogamous, and we invite him at the same time to correct the errors which it has been our duty to point out.

We had omitted to state, that in the preamble to this manual, and the notes occasionally interwoven, there is some additional and practical information for the student, but little that deserves to be recorded.

Upon the whole, we deem this compilation a practical and useful one (but by no means classical,) so far as it extends, making allowance for the unavoidable errors in works of this kind, when undertaken in haste by young botanists, not perfectly acquainted with the state of the science. We should, however, feel very unwilling to discourage similar attempts of the same author or any other, but should merely recommend them to ac quaint themselves thoroughly with the laws, language, and situation of the science both at home and abroad, before they venture to publish their lucubrations and observations; and we ought to warn them against mistaking partial or superficial knowledge, for requisite attainment and needful science.

In particular reference to the author of this work, in which we are happy to perceive much zeal and knowledge, we advise him by all means to persevere in his worthy pursuits, but let him endeavour to acquire such additional information as may be requisite, in order to enable him to improve his future labours, and it would be more gratifying to perceive him hereafter directing them towards works of a original nature, or to the statement of facts and observations, rather than the compilation of names and phrases.

C. S. R.

W

4. Dissertation on Water Snakes, Sea Snakes and Sea Serpents. WHENEVER a singular phenomenon, or an extraordinary natural occurrence, happens to be observed in the U. S: whether spots in the Sun, huge fossil bones or sea serpents, a crowd of superficial writers hasten to offerus, instead of facts, their own ideas and conjectures on the subject, which prove, sometimes, more or less ingenious; but often wild, incorrect, or ridiculous. They are generally so much taken up by their own fancy, that they forget entirely to consult former writers of eminence on the same subjects, should they even happen to know of their existence; what idea are we to entertain of their attempts to explain those subjects, without availing themselves of the valuable writings of Herschell or La Place, Cuvier, or Pinkerton, &c.? in whose works they had been previously and often completely illustrated. Letus listen to a group of children attempting to reason and argue on the rising of the sun, an eclipse of the moon, on the economy of the bees, or on the structure of a whale, without asking any previous questions to their parents, and we shall find a great similarity between their thoughts and those of many of our speculative writers. They often contribute to render contemptible the subject of their inquiries, at least towards the vulgar, while it would otherwise become at all times deeply interestIng; and should their crude speculations ever reach Europe, they will certainly afford very unfavourable specimens of our knowledge and attainments in sciences. These reflections have naturally suggested themselves to my mind on the present occasion.

The ancients gave the name of WaterSnakes and Sea-Snakes to many fishes of the Eel tribe, which bear an apparent likeness with land snakes, although they differ materially on examination, by having fins and gills, and neither lungs nor scales. Many land snakes are in the habit of going into the water, in pursuit of their food or to escape their enemies, and they have often been called Water Snakes when found in that element.

Real Water and Sea Snakes had been noticed at a very early period by navigators, in the Atlantic Ocean, and the Indian Seas; but as they had not been described, eminent naturalists had doubted their ex

istence, believing that eels or similar fishes had been mistaken for snakes.

Russel was perhaps the first writer who established their existence beyond a doubt, by describing and figuring many of thems in his splendid work on the snakes of the Coast of Coromandel. Schneider established for them his genus Hydrus, which wrong name has been with much propriety changed in Hydrophis. They have since been described in all the works on Erpetology, by Shaw, Latreille, Daudin, &c. and those last writers have divided them into four genera, Enhydris, Platu rus, Pelamis, and Hydrophis: which form a peculiar tribe or natural family in the order of snakes, to which I have given the name of Platuria (Platurians, Flat tails of Water Snakes): they are completely distinguished from the land snakes, by hav ing a compressed tail, which serves them as an oar and rudder, enabling them to swim with great swiftness, and from the fishes of the eel tribe, by having neither gills nor fins. They breathe through lungs, at remote periods, whence they generally live near the surface of the water, like the animals of the whale tribe. They prey on fishes and sea animals, and some of them have venomous fangs. Many are known to come on land as tur tles, to deposit their eggs.

About fourteen species of Water Snakes have been described by the above authors; ten more are noticed in the travels of Peron to Australia or New-Holland, one of which was ten feet long; and lately several monstrous species have been seen near our shores. Many others appear to have been perceived by former travellers, and very probably a great variety are known to sailors. The knowledge of these animals is merely emerging into notice, and may yet be greatly improved. I shall not pretend to assert that they are as numerous as land snakes, but it is very likely that one hundred species at least of this tribe exist in the waters of the ocean, lakes and rivers. Intelligent travellers, seamen and fishermen, will gradually make us acquainted with them: meantime, I shall endeavour to give a concise account of those we know, which may facilitate their future observations, and I shall arrange my labour in a sinoptical order, concluding by some remarks on the Sea Serpents, which are merely Sea Snakes, of a very large size.