XXIV INTRODUCTION. 



depended, but also on which of them the Author of the * Cybele 

 Britannica ' has found reason to place a preferential reliance, on 

 the ground of scientific competence and moral trust ; the latter 

 sometimes unfortunately wanting in cases where the former 

 might otherwise have sufficed. 



On page 178 of a ' Supplement to the Compendium of Cybele 

 Britannica,' an intimation was reluctantly given, that the 

 projected work on county distribution might likely be relin- 

 quished, and for reasons there mentioned. That intimation 

 drew forth from several botanical friends their expressions of 

 regrets at the probable failure thus to complete the contemplated 

 series of books on the geographical and topographical botany 

 of Britain. It has been forciblyjirged that a present summary 

 of comital distribution would certainly prove serviceable here- 

 after, and so far as it should reach, even although anticipated 

 events might suddenly occur to prevent its entire completion. 

 To this argument must be added the further inducement, that 

 even a fragment of the projected work, although never com- 

 pleted, would to some extent single out and show the names 

 of those botanists, on whose aid antecedent works have so much 

 depended. 



Another and larger section of botanical riends, particularly 

 among those who take the highest positions of botanical autho- 

 rity, very strongly objected against the avowed intention to 

 destroy the Author's herbarium of British plants, as mentioned 

 in connexion with the probable abandonment of the work on 

 county distribution. The two questions are connected together 

 more closely than may be apparent on first thought ; at any 

 rate, so connected together in the writer's own ideas and plans. 

 While a work on county distribution can be proceeded with, so 

 long at least the herbarium must be preserved, in order to cite 

 from it the personal testimony afforded by its numerous labels. 

 The reasons for its early destruction, too, may be said to become 

 lessened in proportion to the progress made in recording county 

 habitats, because the records themselves will frequently show 



