212 DR. M. T. MASTERS OX SOUTH-AFRICAN RESTIACE^. 



The number of species is, naturally, from the augmentation of 

 material, somewhat increased, while, as in the case of the genera, 

 a great deal of reconstruction has had to be effected ; but, as the 

 synonymy has been carefully attended to, it is hoped that the 

 inconvenience of the occasional change in nomenclature may be 

 more than balanced by the improved circumscription of the genera 

 and species. Considerable difficulty has been experienced, in 

 some cases, in ascertaining to what plants the names given by 

 Thunberg and the older observers really apply. The figures given 

 by Thunberg and Eottboll are excellent, especially those of the 

 latter author; but the descriptions are so meagre and vague as to 

 be in many instances useless. It is a rare thing even for the sex 

 of the plant to be mentioned in Thunberg's descriptions; hence I 

 fear that some of my conjectures as to the identity of Thunberg s 

 species may be incorrect. 



It cannot but be that there are errors of judgment, as well as 

 mistakes arising from faulty observation and imperfect evidence, 

 in the following notes. It is much to be wished that some local 

 observer would, with the basis now afforded him, work out the 

 species in the living state. By so doing much additional informa- 

 tion miglit be gained, and many of the shortcomings of the present 

 descriptive account might be remedied. 



The geographical distribution oi Bestiacece is one of their most 

 interesting features. They appear to be distributed in nearly 

 equal numbers along the south and south-west coasts of the Cape 

 Colony and in the south-west corner of Australia ; a small number 

 are found in Tasmania, and a still smaller number in New Zealand. 

 Very foAV are found in other districts of Australia, next to none m 

 other parts of South Africa. One species exists in Chili, midway 

 between the two continents, apparently more of an Australian 

 than of an African type*. None are found in Mauritius, Mada- 

 gascar, or the islands off the east coast of Africa. The study ot 

 the geographical distribution of Cape plants is much facilitated by 

 the documents published by E. Meyer on the distribution of 

 Drege's plants (Zwei Pflanz-geogr. Doc. 1843), and by the manu- 

 script catalogue of Burchell now preserved at Kew. I have no 

 intention of going into detail upon this subject ; but I may remark 

 in general terms that E. Meyer and Drege divide the Cape district 



* This is another instance of the frequent " coincidence between the vegeta- 

 tion of Chili and that of New Holland and the Southern extremity of Africa."^ 



A, Murray, Geograph. Disfrib. of Mammals, p. 71. Lamherfs * Genus Finns, 

 ed. 2. vol. ii. n. 71. 



