108 



are to be found in Shetlaud (including those introdiiccd by human 

 agency), to 317 in the Færoes. Of these, neaiiy 265 are common 

 to both group of islands, 50 are peculiar to the Færoes and 110 to 

 Shetland. Thus we see that a large number of species whicli are 

 wanting in the Færoes have been found in Shetland and vice versa, 

 while ahiiost all occur in Great Britain. 



The reasons for these dilYerences must l)e sought in the following 

 circumstances: — 1) The different geological structure and conse- 

 quently configuration, the mountains of the Færoes being far higher 

 than those of Shetland; 2) the much larger cultivated area on Shet- 

 land; and 3) its somewhat more southern position. The lists also 

 show that the 110 species which are absent in the Færoes are 

 chiefly lowland piants and mostly piants which follow in the 

 wake of civilisation, while the 50 peculiar to the Færoes are Arctic 

 piants; as an example I may mention that the Færoes have 5 

 species of the genus Saxifraga and Shetland but 1 which has, more- 

 over, only been found in a few piaces. 



Similar differences are detected when we compare the Færoes 

 with another group of islands north of Scotland — the Orkney Isles; 

 according to the latest records^, about 450 species are to be found 

 on them, and of these some 150 or 200 are absent in the Færoes. 



Turning to Scandinavia we find circumstances almost similar 

 to those of Great Britain. Only 7 species which are to be 

 found in the Færoes, are absent from Scandinavia, and 

 of these, three are species of Eiiphrasia which may on subsequent 

 investigation be found in West Norway. The species are the 

 following: — 



Eiiphrasia atropiirpiirea. Anagallis tenella. 



— horealis. Alchimilla færoensis. 



— scotica. Carex cryptocarpa. 

 Myosotis repens. 



While the 7 (10) species which are absent in Great Britain are 

 typical Arctic species the 5 here mentioned are Atlantic, only Al- 

 chimilla and Carex being Arctic. The Atlantic species must be 

 sought for on the west coast of Norway M'here there is a fairly 



1 See H. C. Watsnn: Florula Orcadensis. A list of Piants reported to occur 

 in the Orkney Isles (Journ. of Botany 1864, p. 11). 



W. .1. Fortescue: A new list of the flowering piants and ferns of Orkney 

 (The Scottish Naturalist 1882, pp. 318 and 362, 1883, pp. 20, 72 and 110). 



