IV. PHYSICAL GEOGKArHY. 129 



Eud in Cornwall to a place near liowestoft in Suffolk ; 

 and this line is said to measure 307 miles. The width of 

 the island, from east to west by a straight line, is every- 

 where much less, and in some parts would measure less 

 than forty miles. The circumference by a wavy outline, 

 and neglecting small irregularities, is about 2000 miles. 

 But the length of coast or shore line, reached by tides, 

 would be made quite 4000 miles by including estuaries 

 and river banks, with creeks and other small inlets. In 

 even numbers the total area may be reckoned at 88,000 

 square miles (MaccuUoch) ; but some authorities reduce 

 it below 84,000 miles. The areas of the three ancient 

 kingdoms, frequently mentioned in this work, may be 

 given separately in square miles thus ; — 



England 50,387. Wales 7,425. Scotland 29,600. 

 In Scotland the lakes occupy full 600 miles of this area. 

 Wales is usually understood to be included with England, 

 when the name of the latter is mentioned in botanical 

 books ; especially so, if mentioned in contra- distinction 

 against Scotland or Ireland. The areas of the other 

 chief divisions, more formally used in this work, will be 

 stated presently under the appropriate heads. 



3. Division into Counties. — These old political divisions 

 of Britain were found to be little suitable for the objects 

 of phyto-geography. As a first step downward, in sub- 

 dividing the three ancient kingdoms of England, Wales, 

 Scotland, they were found to be inconveniently numerous. 

 Their extreme inequality of size was also most inconve- 

 nient and objectionable ; the largest of them being more 

 than a hundred fold the size of the smallest. Other 

 divisions or sections of the surface were required instead, 

 more equal in their dimensions, and bearing some better 

 relation to the physical geography of the surface. By 



VOL. IV. S 



