Botanical Results of the “Challenger” Expedition

Abstract

THE botanical results of the voyage of the Challenger hitherto published have been confined to the reports of Mr. Moseley, sent home from time to time during the voyage, along with collections of plants made by him, to Kew, and published, along with lists of the species, in the Journal of the Linnean Society. In the volume before us we have the results of a more detailed working up of the material thus obtained so far as it belongs to insular floras. Mr. Hemsley, who is responsible for the book, brings to his task botanical experience which begets the liveliest confidence in the thoroughness and accuracy of the work, and the volume will certainly compare with any of those upon the zoological results of the voyage already published. It is necessary to emphasise the fact that Mr. Hernsley is the author of the book, for it is not patent on first inspection. The title-page, where one naturally looks for information upon the subject of authorship, tells that the volume is published under the superintendence of Mr. John Murray, who writes barely a page of preface, but it says nothing of Mr. Hemsley, the author of the rest of the book—over 900 pages—and it is only by turning up the table of contents that his connection with the book is found recorded. This may be consistent with uniformity in the appearance of the Challenger publications, but hardly, we think, with consideration for the author.

Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. “Challenger” during the Years 1873–76 under the Command of capt. G.S. Nares, R.N., F.R.S., and Capt. F. T. Thomson, R.N.

Prepared under the Superintendence of the late Sir C. Wyville Thomson., &c., and now of John Murray, one of the Naturalists of the Expedition. Botany—Vol. 1. By William Botting Hemsley, A.L.S. (Published by Order of Her Majesty's Government, 1885.)