UPON THE FLORA OF THE SHETLAND ISLES. 3 
been erroneously determined, as Lycopodium clavatum, which is L. al- 
pinum (see Newman, ‘ Phytologist,’ vol. i. p. 34, 1841), and hence not 
introduced into the Flora. I doubt not but that Briza media, Poly- 
gonum Bistorta, and Conium maculatum will hereafter be found to claim 
a place among the plants indigenous to Shetland. They are so to the 
Orkneys. 
The second contribution to Shetland botany was also by Edmonston, 
and is entitled ‘A Flora of Shetland, comprehending a List of the 
Flowering and Cryptogamic Plants,’ etc. It was published in 1845. 
In this volume I have still to complain of an indefiniteness as to lo- 
cality, of an erroncousness as to frequency of occurrence, at least as 
applicable to the whole archipelago. Such conspicuous plants as 
Daucus Carota, * abundant ;” Anthriscus vulgaris, abundant ;” Stel- 
laria graminea, “ abundant," and others. Now, no one will admit 
that such established species could possibly have become extinct in so 
short a time ; however, I did not succeed in finding them. Yet still I 
admit the possibility of the fault being mine, from the limited time I 
spent on the islands, about four weeks in the months of June and July, 
1865 ; and that botanical investigation was not the object of my visit 
there, but only followed as opportunities permitted. I, however, spent 
nearly two weeks in the island of Unst, the principal field of Mr. Ed- 
. monston's labours, with which his name will ever be associated, as the 
discoverer of three new forms upon it. In the islands of Uyea, Yell, 
I spent in all a week; the island of Bressa, the districts of Northma- 
vin, Tingwall, and Lerwick were fairly worked by me, each area yield- 
ing me some new species. llurried and casual as was the nature of 
my exploration, yet I was enabled to make many corrigenda and ad- 
denda to the Flora; and as, also for some of the reasons above ex- 
pressed, I am qonfident that a more extended research will be con- 
ferring a boon on botanical science by the addition of several species 
new to the Shetland list, and the authenticating of others, many of 
which are of a critical and interesting nature. 
One inconvenience arising from the peculiar method of classification 
employed in the ‘ Shetland Flora,’ apart from its inutility, is that some 
species are omitted in the general list, though mentioned in the pre- 
face ; these are—Lotus corniculatus, p. xxiv. ; Alchemilla vulgaris, A. 
alpina, p. xiii.; Empetrum nigrum, p. xvii.; Sparganium, p. xii. ; Di- 
anthus kis Glechoma hederacea, and Gnaphalium supinum, p. xiii. 
; B2 
