INTRODUCTORY OBSERVATIONS. 3 



as puWished records of their localities, or yet unpublished 

 data within reach, will allow of that course ; which is un- 

 fortunately not always practicable. Thus, in his elabo- 

 rate Monograph of the British Hieracia, Mr. James 

 Backhouse has indicated their localities witli sufficient 

 copiousness (though doubtless still far from complete- 

 ness) to admit of his segregate species being included in 

 some of the lists printed in an after portion of this 

 volume. 



In regard to miscellaneous records of localities, and 

 other data of distribution, these have become so ex- 

 tremely numerous and varied, that no writer on geogra- 

 phical botany can be expected to avoid overlooking some 

 of them. The tables and lists to be given in this volume, 

 with the hosts of facts reduced or generalised into nume- 

 rical figures, may be deemed to bring forward the subject 

 to the end of 1856 ; most of the calculations having been 

 made or corrected in 1857 ; the printing being com- 

 menced early in 1858. 



But the New Series of the Phytologist has been en- 

 tirely left out of use or consideration ; because, when 

 the alternative seems to lie between the possible loss 

 of a few good facts, and the recei)tion of them largely 

 commingled with probable errors, — the former appears 

 the wiser risk to take. The want of competent bo- 

 tanical editorship rendered needful the exercise of much 

 caution, enlightened by more exact knowledge, in re- 

 lying upon the promiscuous records in the original 

 series, under the proprietorship of Mr. Newman, — but, it 

 is believed, chiefly left to the editorship of Mr. Luxford. 

 Subsequent changes have now placed the New Series 

 considerably farther out of the pale of scientific autho- 

 rity ; that is to say, too far below the class of books 

 which scientific men should venture to quote as reliable. 



