APPENDIX. 



PEELIMINAEY EEMAEKS. 



Now that the laborious Enumeration has been brought to an end, we have to enter 

 upon the more congenial portion of our task relating to the distribution of the plants. 

 This might be approached from a variety of aspects, and it might be extended almost 

 indefinitely, especially in the examination and discussion of the various theories put 

 forward by different writers ; but, as it is the intention of the Editors to publish an 

 Introductory Volume at the conclusion of the much more extensive zoological portion 

 of the work, embracing the whole subject, we shall confine ourselves almost exclusively 

 to an exposition of the facts. For the same reason the physical geography and 

 climatology will only be dealt with in a very general way, and the geology will not be 

 touched. But while these subjects have been either altogether neglected or very 

 briefly treated, the distribution of the plants has been almost exhaustively tabulated 

 and analyzed. In the tedious process of compiling the tables and collecting the 

 materials for the various sections of this Appendix, the writer has been very ably 

 assisted by Miss Matilda Smith. The figures have almost invariably been obtained 

 by one and checked by the other, and thereby it is hoped that serious errors have 

 altogether been avoided. It is important to note that the geographical tables were 

 not literally compiled from the Enumeration, otherwise persons using the work would 

 find themselves confronted with numerous unaccountable discrepancies ; but the nature 

 and extent of the eliminations and modifications made are explained in the paragraph 

 preceding the first of the tables. 



As each section of the present Appendix contains all that seems necessary to make 

 it intelligible in itself, it is unnecessary to enter into further particulars here, especially 

 as the object and scope of the work are set forth in the Preface to the first volume, and 

 the contents of the present volume are fully summarized at the beginning. 



A SKETCH OF THE HISTOEY OF THE BOTANICAL EXPLOEATION 

 OF MEXICO AND CENTEAL AMEEICA. 



This must necessarily be brief and imperfect ; but the subject could not properly be 

 omitted altogether. Francisco Hernandez, physician to Philip II. of Spain, was the 

 first European who investigated the flora of Mexico, though from a medicinal rather 



