85. CYPEKACE^. 91 



bouriiig hills or moors attaining to between 400 and 500 

 yards of altitude above the sea, — given the fact, that C. 

 pauciflora occurs somewhere between these different 

 heights, at what height does it occur ? — Of course, it is 

 impossible to answer the question on these data, at a 

 distance from the place. As another aid towards deter- 

 mining the lower line of the species, we have had the 

 following lucid information i^laced on record, as something 

 worth printing, by a Professor of Botany, in the year 

 1843 ; — " Carex pauciflora was also seen ia marshy 

 ground near Strathblane, at a much lower level than 

 usual." In the year 1843, did Professor Balfour, or any 

 other botanist, know the usual level of C. pauciflora, its 

 level varying by at least COO yards of perpendicular 

 altitude ? And if not, what is the wit of comparing two 

 different altitudes, neither of them being known, or ex- 

 pressed in words even approximately? Blank is much 

 lower than blank ! Such loose unmeaning records are 

 almost valueless in science ; and I take opportunities of 

 directuig attention to their vague inutility, not for the 

 sake of sarcasm or censure as an end, but as penetrating 

 means for inciting botanical observers to improvement in 

 future notices intended for publication, 



1207. Carex kupestris, All. 



Area ***-***********lS*l'''' 



South limit in Perth, Forfar, Aberdeen, 



Noi-th limit in Sutherland. 



Estimate of provinces 2. Estimate of counties 4. 



Latitude 56—58. Highland ij])e of distribution. 



Arctic region. Inferarctic — Midarctic zones. 



Descends to 700 yards, in East Highlands. 



