218 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



ing to a limited field, it may be of use to consider the 

 progress made in one branch of natural science in Scotland 

 in the past, its present position, the directions in which 

 progress in it is most required in Scotland, and the relations 

 of the natural sciences to general education in the country. 



The systematic study of botany had made considerable 

 progress in Scotland before the close of the eighteenth 

 century. The works of Sibbald show a keen interest in 

 this as well as in other branches of natural history, and 

 prove that he studied both in the field and in the writings 

 of the naturalists of continental Europe. The formation of 

 a botanic garden and of a chair of botany in Edinburgh 

 made that city a centre of instruction in the science. But 

 elsewhere also in Scotland it was being pursued by isolated 

 students, such as Dr. David Skene of Aberdeen, a corre- 

 spondent of Linnaeus and an enthusiast in every branch of 

 natural science. Manuscripts that fortunately have been 

 preserved, and are now in the library of the University of 

 Aberdeen, bear witness to his zeal, untiring energy, and care, 

 and give reason to believe that had he not died young he 

 would have added much to what was then known of the 

 flora and fauna of Scotland. 



Lightfoot's well-known "Flora Scotica," issued in 1778, 

 and again in 1788, added greatly to existing records of the 

 flora. It was based on assiduous researches by the author 

 himself in 1772, during a journey "by land or sea from the 

 south of Annaudale to the borders of Sutherland" to " most 

 of the Hebrides," " from Argyleshire to the county of Mearns" 

 " and afterwards to England by way of Edinburgh and Kelso" 

 in which he " had a constant eye to the following work, 

 embraced every opportunity of scaling the highest mountains, 

 climbing the most rugged rocks, treading the fallacious bogs, 

 winding upon the shores of seas and lakes." His personal 

 observations were largely supplemented by free access to 

 the herbarium and notes of Professor Hope of Edinburgh, 

 of Professor Parsons of Oxford (herbarium and notes made 

 during residence as a student of medicine in Edinburgh), of 

 Mr. Yalden of Edinburgh, of Rev. Mr. Stuart of Killin, 

 Breadalbane, and of Rev. Dr. Burgess of Kirkmichael in 

 Dumfriesshire. That he made excellent use of these sources 



