COLLECTION MADE IN WESTERN CHINA. 299 



particulars respecting these collections, though it seemed 

 desirable to allude to them, because I shall have occasion to 



Mr 



Western 



f on the borders of Eastern Tibet, mainly for the purpose of 



collecting Zoological specimens. Fortunately, however, he was 

 induced by Dr. Henry to engage a native (whom Dr. Henry 

 had trained to dry plants) to assist him in making a botanical 

 collection. 



It is of this collection I would say a few words, as a sort of 

 preface to the descriptions of the novelties. The collection was 

 made chiefly in the neighbourhood of Tachienlu, at elevations of 

 9000 to 13,500 feet. Tachienlu is a town near the frontier, 

 situated in about 30° N". lat. and 102° 15' E. long., at an eleva- 

 tion of 8350 feet. Full particulars of this region are given in 

 Mr. Colborne Baber's interesting narrative of his exploration of 

 the region, in the first volume of the Supplemental Papers of 

 the Royal Geographical Society, and in Mr. Pratt's account of 



1I7T1 



of the same Society. 



Mr 



but I estimate that it contains at least 500 species, mostly 

 represented by numerous admirably selected specimens, as 

 may be judged from the small selection I am able, through the 

 kindness of the Director of Kew, to exhibit here this evening. 

 The flora of the mountains of Western China abounds in showy 

 herbaceous plants, equalling, if not surpassing, the richest districts 

 of the Himalayan region, of which indeed it is a continuation. 

 As in the Eastern Himalayas, every valley has its peculiar 

 species. Eoughly speaking, I should say that the collection 

 contains about 150 new species, of which, however, at least a 

 third were also collected by Prince Henry of Orleans, who 

 arrived with Mr. Bonvalot at Tachienlu during Mr. Pratt's stay 

 there. These were published last year by Professor Bureau and 

 Mr. Franchet in the ■ Journal de Botanique * ; and throi 

 kindness of these gentlemen and the personal assistance of the 

 latter, I have been able to compare the novelties of the two 

 collections. This was a great advantage, because the Prince 

 collected no duplicates. With all this wealth of new species 

 there is not a single new genus, whereas Dr. Henry and 

 Mr. Faber between them discovered about twenty-five new 



z2 



