CENSUS OF SPECIES. 281 



species witb a single locality, and another species with a score of 

 localities, might alike be limited to single provinces. Actually, such 

 extreme instances do not occur ; but there is sufEcient approximation 

 thereto to cause an accumulation of species, of very unequal frequency 

 or rarity, at and towards the two extremes of 18 provinces and 1 pro- 

 vince. This accumulation is accordingly much reduced under the sub- 

 provincial census, in which the spaces are smaller and more numerous. 

 Still more so in the comital and vice-coraital census ; partly, through 

 the increased number of the spaces, partly through incomplete know- 

 ledge. In that third summary the even nos. are reudered too prominent 

 in species, through entering under 80, 60, 40, 20, &c. some species 

 which are known in so many counties or thereabouts ; the precise num- 

 bers being made doubtful through uncertainties of the records or of the 

 real nativity of the plants in one or more of the counties. 



On looking back over the census list in its printed state, a typo- 

 graphical defect becomes unpleasantly obvious. The primary test of 

 frequency is found in the subprovincial grouping of the species ; which 

 is thus made the leading intellectual idea of the list ; and it ought 

 accordingly to have been presented to the eye of the reader at least as 

 conspicuously as the other nos. and names in secondary detail. Instead, 

 the head-titles of those groups have been rendered insignificant by the 

 use of a minute type for the " 38 subprovinces," " 37 subprovinces," 

 " 36 subprovinces," &c. As printers cannot of course be expected to 

 understand thoroughly all the various subjects which they are called 

 upon to convert into a printed form, it is difficult to prevent the 

 mechanical ideas of the oflBce thus occasionally misdirecting the intel- 

 lectual ideas of readers, through mis-portraying those of writers. 



VOL. IV. 2 O 



