*

We observe a German version of _The Popular Nomenclature of American
Plants_, under the title of _Die Volksnamen der Amerikan. Pflanzen_, by
BERTHOLD SEEMANN, published at Hanover, by Ruempler. Of this book a
German reviewer remarks, that "the knowledge of the popular local names
in systematic botany has hitherto been neglected in such an
unaccountable manner, that the appearance of the above-cited work has
awakened a joyful surprise among all who are capable of appreciating its
value. This well-deserving traveller, whose name at present is in every
mouth, has in a great measure by his own exertions, and partly from the
works and indications of Aublet, Bridges, Cruickshanks, De Candolle,
Gardner, Gilles, Hooker, Humboldt and Bonpland, Lindley, la Llave and
Lergarga, Martius, Miers, Pursch, Ruaz and Pavon, Torrey and Gray,
Cervantes and Bustamente, carefully and scientifically collected above
two thousand of the names with which the different races of the American
Continent designate the most important of their plants. Moreover, he has
fully succeeded in conforming these names, almost without exception, to
the systematic scientific terminology by which they are known, or at
least has given their family. With this work a path has been opened
which will prove servicable not only to the botanist but also to the
philologist, and which we trust will in future be trodden frequently by
the author and other travellers."

* * * * *

Of the interesting historical compositions lately published, we may cite
by FR. GERLACH _Die Geschichte der Roemer_ (or History of the Romans),
and _Die Geschichtschreiber der Deutschen Vorzeit_ (or The Historians of
the early German Times), the fifth volume of which has just appeared,
containing the Chronicle of Herimann, according to the edition of the
_Monumenta Germaniae_. We have also, with a colossal title which we in
part omit, three volumes of the _Fontes Rerum Austriacarum_ (or Austrian
Sources of History), published by the historical commission of the Royal
Academy of Sciences in Vienna. This is spoken of as a really wonderful
collection of curious documents. The sources of Austrian history have
been at all times sadly neglected, and this work may in a great measure
supply the deficiency. In the same department we have also the second
volume of MIGNET'S _History of Mary Stuart_, from an English version of
which we have already quoted somewhat largely in t