88 THE WILD-FLOWERS OF SELBORNE 



sequent on the vast increase of our population, the 

 draining of the Fens, improved methods of agriculture, 

 the rapacity of dealers, the collecting energy of modern 

 botanists — all have helped to impoverish the richness 

 of the British flora. Still, considering the changed 

 condition of the face of the country, it may be a matter 

 of surprise that the number of rare plants is not more 

 seriously reduced. 



But few species, at any rate, have become absolutely 

 extinct in Great Britain. The Alpine cotton-grass is 

 gone from the bogs of Forfar, and a sedge from its 

 only known locality near Bath. A vetch with " long 

 white flowers," formerly found by Ray on Glastonbury 

 Tor, is also gone, and a near relation, Vicia IcEvigata, 

 which once occupied the Chesil Beach near Wey- 

 mouth, and is now extinct, not only in England, but 

 in the whole world. That interesting member of the 

 Lily group, Simethis bicolor, formerly to be found 

 near Bournemouth, was extirpated before the year 

 1875 ; and it is to be feared that the little Holosteuin 

 unibellatmn will never again be seen on the old walls 

 of Norwich, or Bury, or Eye. 



But while few species have become entirely ex- 

 tinct as regards Great Britain as a whole, yet a large 

 number seem to be on the verge of it. Plants formerly 

 not uncommon, and to be found in several counties, 

 are now extremely rare and confined to one or two 

 localities. This is especially the case with some of 

 our orchids; and several species, such as the lizard 

 orchis, the coral-root, the lady's slipper, the leafless 

 Epipogum, and the Fen orchis, may soon have to be 

 reckoned among our extinct species. The sweet- 

 scented sea stock, one of the most showy and beautiful 

 plants in our native flora, is extinct on the cliffs at 



