That the charm of novelty, however erroneous or absurd, has found at all times its votaries, we have daily experience; therefore cannot wonder at, though we may regret its consequent influence on the many, who wish to signalize themselves, under its delusive banner. This observation naturally obtruded on our imagination, upon the perusal of the last Number of the Bot. Mag. where the Kidney-leaved _Crane’s-bill_ is mentioned as “_one of the rarest of the Geranium tribe_;” are we to understand Geranium in this place as a new title for a natural order of plants; or, as solely confined to one Genus? Poor Geranium! although thou hast been so long excluded from thy station, in scientific English, yet shalt thou not lose thy due weight, against all thy opponents, in pure descriptive English prose; and perhaps some day may be deemed, by the learned, worthy a place amongst English Genera. With Mr. Donn, we humbly conceive the old title Crane’s-bill, as ill adapted to the three Genera of M. L’Heritier; and that, if new Latin names are to be foisted on us, for plants already well known, and settled, by that great master of the science, Linnæus; to whose opinion ours shall ever bow, English ones consonant, should be likewise adopted; and that Heron’s-bill for Erodium, Stork’s-bill for Pelargonium, and Crane’s-bill for Geranium, will prove no greater puzzle to the English Botanist. Unfortunately we are, and have been, so attached to old fashions, that we still mean to continue the title Geranium, as it is apparently best understood; whether, in English or Latin, descriptive, or scientific; as long as the public shall continue so honourably to patronize the Botanist’s Repository. [Illustration] PLATE CXVI. GAULTHERIA PROCUMBENS. _Trailing Gaultheria._ CLASS X. ORDER I. _DECANDRIA MONOGYNIA._ Ten Chives. One Pointal. GENERIC CHARACTER. CALYX. Perianthium duplex, approximatum, persistens. _P. exterius_ diphyllum, brevius; foliolis semiovatis, concavis, obtusis. _P. interius_ monophyllum, quinquesidum campanulatum; segmentis semiovatis. COROLLA monopetala, ovata, semiquinquesida; limbo parvo, revoluto. _Nectarium_ corpusculis decem, subulatis, erectis, brevissimis, cingentibus germen intra stamina. STAMINA. Filamenta decem, subulata, incurva, corolla breviora; receptaculo inserta. Antheræ bicornes; corniculis bifidis. PISTILLUM. Germen subrotundum, depressum. Stylus cylindricus, longitudine corollæ. Stigma obtusum. PERICARPIUM. Capsula subrotunda, obtusa, pentagona, depressa, quinque locularis, quinque valvis, undique tecta perianthio interiore transformato et enato in baccam subrotundam, coloratam, apice perviam. SEMINA plurima, subovata, angulata, ossea. EMPALEMENT. Cup double, close together, remaining. _Outer Cup_ two leaved, shorter; leaflets half egg-shaped, concave, and blunt.