EDWARD FORBES. 21$ 



where the plants correspond in many respects to those of 

 the opposite coast of France, characteristic forms being the 

 Sainfoin (Onobrychis sativa), the Bryony (Bryonia dioica), 

 several species of Mullein ( Verbascum\ and the Box (Buxus 

 sempervirens). This is the least well defined of the areas 

 which Forbes distinguishes, though many of the land-snails 

 which it possesses are peculiar. Both as regards the plants 

 and the animals, however, the species are types which are 

 especially fond of districts where the white chalk is the 

 underlying formation, or where at any rate the soil is 

 calcareous. The peculiarities of their distribution, there- 

 fore, depend essentially upon the distribution of a soil 

 suitable for them. 



(IV.) A fourth area may be distinguished by the name of 

 the Scandinavian or Arctic area, and comprises the High- 

 lands of Scotland, the higher parts of the Lake District of 

 Cumberland and Westmorland, and the more elevated 

 parts of Wales. Here we meet with numerous species of 

 plants identical with, or closely allied to, forms which are 

 characteristic of Scandinavia or of the Arctic regions. 

 Thus, we find the Blue Gentian (Gentiana nivalis), the 

 Dwarf Birch (Betula nana\ the Scotch Primrose {Primula 

 scotica\ the Alpine Veronica ( Veronica alpina\ two Dwarf 

 Willows (Salix herbacea and S. reticulata], and other 

 familiar northern types. There is, however, a progressive 

 diminution of these alpine forms of plants as we proceed 

 southwards ; the largest number of them being found in 

 the Highlands, a smaller number in the Lake District, and 

 a still smaller number in Wales. 



(V.) The last area comprises all parts of the British 

 Isles not enumerated in the four regions previously 



