Linnaan Society. 44? have the advantage of possessing a Genera Plantarum complete up to the time of publication of each of the supplementary parts. Nomenciator Botanicus, seu Synonymia Plantarum Universalis, auctore E.T. Steudel, M.D. Ed. 2. 1840-41. The completion of the above laborious undertaking points out in a peculiarly clear manner the great advance in the knowledge of species that has been attained during the last twenty years. In the former edition of this work (if such it ought to be called), which ap-peared in 1821, there are 3376 genera and 39,684 species recorded, whilst in the present edition, which has appeared at intervals during the years 1840 and 1841, the names of 6722 genera and 78,005 spe-cies are recorded ; thus almost doubling the number of ascertained genera and also of species. It is probable that no previous period of similar extent would show any approach to so great a relative ad-vance in our knowledge of the Phanerogamic plants, to which di-vision the present work is confined. We need scarcely say more concerning a work that must recom-mend itself so strongly by its mere usefulness to the notice of bota-nists, but may add that, as far as English publications are concerned, it appears to include nearly everything up to the conclusion of the 17th volume of the Linnsean Transactions. Enchiridion Botanicum exhibens Classes et Ordines Plantarum j accedit Nomenciator Generum, auctore S. Endlicher, M.D. 1841. The great work that we have already noticed by Prof. Endlicher had hardly been completed when he again comes before us with the present volume, which contains very full descriptions of the natural orders of plants ; a complete list of the genera included under each ; and numerous observations on their affinities, geography, qualities and use in medicine, for culinary purposes, and in the arts. We can-not too strongly recommend this book to all botanical students. PROCEEDINGS OF LEARNED SOCIETIES. LINNDEAN society. June 15, 1841. — The Bishop of Norwich, President, in the Chair. Read, an Extract from a Letter from William Griffith, Esq., F.L.S., to R. H. Solly, Esq., F.L.S., dated Meerut, March 29, 1841. Mr. Griffith states, that in its placentation, ovula, and protrusion of the embryonary sac, Osyris approaches Santalum, but presents in some particulars still more curious anomalies. First, the embryo-nary sac of Osyris seems to be produced beyond the base of the ovulum, passing down through the placenta and through the central tissue of the young fruit to its base. Secondly, the first steps of the growths consequent on fecundation take place outside the protruded sac, which may be found unaltered in the placenta of the ripe fruit. Whether the first cells, constituting the rudiments of the part in
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