■LICIIEy-FliORA OF XOBTTIEBN EUllOPE, 300 



thau tlie Scandinavian Lichen-flora. The reasons or causes of 

 this anticipated superior richness are to be found in the more 

 southern latitude of Britain, in the greater yariety of its geolo- 

 gical constitution and physical configuration, as Avell as of its ar- 

 boreal vegetation. Contrasting, however, Scotland alone and 

 Norway, I am not sure that the balance would be in favour of the 

 former. My general impression, from alpine excursions especially 

 m both countries, and in the absence of precise data for determi- 

 nation, is that the alpine Lichen-flora of Xorway is richer than 

 that of Scotland. It is unprofitable, however, to discuss such a 

 question until the possession of accurate lists of the lichens both 

 of Scotland and Xorway enables us to do so with some precision*. 



Meanwhile the affinities between the alpine and subalpiue Li- 

 chen-floras of Scotland and jS'orway are most interesting. The 

 researches of Scottish lichenologists during the la^t fifteen years 

 have brought to liglit a considerable number of more or less rare 

 and interesting species which are common to the alps of Scotland 

 and Xorway ; and this number is constantly being added to. Tlio 

 experience of the past twenty years warrants us in saying that 

 "v^'hile certain iS'orwegian alpine lichens remain yet to be discovered 

 m the highlands and islands of Scotland, there are also certain 

 Scotch alpine forms which are yet probably to be found on the 

 Norwegian alps, as Nylanderf points out in regard, e, y., to Ver- 

 ncaria scoiinosjwra, NyL, and F". verrucoso-arcoJata, Scha?r. Nei- 

 ther country can yet be said to be thoroughly explored in regard 

 to the lichens of the less known and more remote districts. 



As of much interest to the lichenoWists of both countries, I 



venture to append a list of the principal lichens which arc com- 

 inon to the alpine districts of Scotland and Norway, all of which, 



* The *Edinbur;;h Cabinet Library,' volume on " Icaland, Greenland, and 

 Faro" (1840, p. ^77), gives the folloAving comparative numerical statement of 

 the Lichen-flora of 



No. of species. 



Scotland 260 



50 



Iceland 60 



Greenland ^'^ 



from which it would appear that the Scottish stajid to Icelandic lichens in 

 the proportion of more than 4 to 1, and to the Fiirucsc of more, tlian 5 to 1. 

 Such etatistics, however, arc comparatively valueless, bocau=e the data on "Inch 

 they arc founded (the names of the lichens described by botnnii^ts prior to the 

 appUcation of the microscope to the study of their spores) cannot be relief PD- 



+ T.- I. ^_ 1 ^mr. 



Scand 



