56 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS A FLORA OF 

 THE OUTER HEBRIDES. 



By ARTHUR BENNETT, F.L.S. 



A WISH to see the western isles of Scotland thoroughly 

 explored for their botanical productions Jias induced me 

 these five years past to endeavour to interest any one who 

 I knew was likely to help on the work ; and by the kind- 

 ness of Messrs. Duncan, King, Somerville, and Cotton I 

 have been enabled to see a good series of plants from the 

 Outer Hebrides. From looking to their distribution else- 

 where I have been led to think that the number of species 

 that inhabit these islands would, and will, be largely added 

 to. The supposed falling off in species from east to 

 west in Scotland : I believe to be very much overstated. 

 When the Outer and Inner Hebrides are thoroughly searched, 

 I quite think the number of plants not yet found there will 

 be very much reduced. 



These notes must be taken as expressing the wish that 

 others will endeavour to carefully search any of the islands, 

 as opportunity occurs. And we want these western floras 

 complete before we can judge of the past and present floras 

 on safe grounds. 



For the use of future workers I give a list of such books 

 and papers as I have consulted. 



J. H. Balfour and C. C. Babington. "Trans. Bot. Soc. Edin.," 

 1844, pp. 133-154- 



M'Culloeh's " Western Islands " ; a few species are mentioned in this. 



T. Pennant's " Tour in Scotland and Voyage to the Hebrides," 

 1774-1776, with figures of plants. 



W. Maegillivray in " Edinburgh Journal of Natural and Geographi- 

 cal Science," 1830, p. 91 ; and in "Edin. Phil. Journal," 1842, 

 p. 47. 



Dr. Stirton, in "Scot. Naturalist," 1886, p. 182. 



R. M. Barring-ton, "Notes on the Flora of St. Kilda," in "Journal of 

 Botany," 1886, pp. 213-216. 



Arthur Bennett, in "Scot. Naturalist," 1887, pp. 56-66; 1888, 

 pp. 247-261 ; 1889, pp. III-H2. 



1 S. Grieve, "Trans. Bot. Soc. of Edinburgh," 1887, pp. 487-490. 



