GENERAL. XXxXi 
does not in his history show that familiarity with 
plants which one would expect from the writer of 
a more or less correct flora of the county. Mr 
Patrick Neill says :—* While in Orkney in 1804, I 
had several opportunities of being in company with 
the late Dr Barry, the laborious author of the 
‘History of Orkney.’ I was even favoured with a 
sight of the MS. of a‘Flora Orcadensis, compiled 
by the Dr, partly from his own observations and 
partly (as he informed me) from MSS. left by the 
late Revd. Geo. Low, the northern assistant of Mr 
Pennant.” Dr Joseph Anderson, in his introduction 
to Low’s biography says, p. Ixxiil.:—‘ Mr Low’s 
‘Flora Oreadensis’ is stated to have passed into the 
hands of the Revd. Dr George Barry, minister of 
Shapinsay, and to have been used by him in his 
‘History of Orkney, published in 1800.” Professor 
Traill says :-—“I recollect the late Dr Barry shewing 
me a MS. flora, which he informed me was the work 
of Revd. Geo. Low.” 
GENERAL. 
In preparing this hand-book of the Orkney flora, 
I have not attempted to write a description of 
each plant. That would have been superfluous, as 
anyone wishing to gain a familiar knowledge of the 
flora will find the information in standard botany 
books issued at a moderate price. My object has been 
to give as complete a list as possible of the local 
species and varieties, and of the places where they 
are to be found. I have, where possible, followed 
the 10th edition of the “ London Catalogue”; but 
