376 The Scottish Naturalist. 



suggests that some of the authorities given (e.g., the parish lists 

 in the ' Statistical Account of Scotland ') are not to be taken as 

 absolutely correct. While admitting that there is a great deal 

 that is valuable in the ' Statistical Account,' we quite agree with 

 our author that each list in it must be judged on its own merits. 

 And on this point we do not speak without experience. We 

 will not readily forget our amusement when, on consulting the 

 ' Statistical Account ' for information regarding the botany of a 

 certain parish, we read, under the heading of "Botany of the 

 Parish," that there were many interesting plants in the green- 

 houses at , with which remark the reverend compiler dis- 

 misses the subject. Mr M'Andrew further regrets his inability 

 to give what he terms " Botanists' varieties of the Ranunculi," 

 &c. Doubtless when these are worked out, several interesting 

 species will be recorded for the district. 



As no summary of the number of species contained in the list 

 is given, we can only form an estimate of the extent of the flora. 

 A rough calculation gives upwards of 950 species; but as this 

 includes various naturalised plants, and several others whose 

 occurrence is more than doubtful, it is probable that the actual 

 number of indigenous or well-established plants is between 800 

 and 900. 



As in a district possessing hills, the alpine or sub-alpine flora 

 is, for several reasons, the most interesting, it is to be regret- 

 ted that Mr M'Andrew has not devoted a few lines to point 

 out the limits in the district of the alpine flora. Amongst the 

 alpine plants enumerated are Thalictrum alpinum, Cerastittm 

 alpinum, Alchcmilla alpina, Saxifraga stellaris, S. oppositifolia, 

 S. aizoides, Sedum rhodiola, Epilobium alpinum, Saussurea alpina, 

 Salix herbacea, Juncus triglumis, J. tripdus, Car ex rupestris, C. 

 atrata, C. capillaris, &c. The first of these is said to be " com- 

 mon on the hills," — rather too vague a statement ; for the others 

 (or most of them), the neighbourhood of Moffat is the locality 

 indicated. Doubtless many of them do occur, but a little later 

 authority than that of the ' Statistical Account ' is desirable. 

 Some, such as Carex rupestris, are almost certainly recorded in 

 error, and, along with /uncus castaneus, and one or two other spe- 

 cies which are said to be "very doubtful," should be omitted in 

 future editions of the list, unless verified by competent botanists. 



Passing now to the lowland plants, we may just notice the 

 occurrence of such interesting species as Lychnis viscaria, Alsine 

 verna, Lathyrus sylvestris, Serratula tiuctoria, Inula critlwioides, 



