348 Vin. ALTITUDE OF SPECIES. 



134 — 6. Some of these are valuable additions, incorporated in the list 

 here under explanation. Tbe greater number of them were found not 

 available ; as only indicating heights far within those already ascertained 

 for the same species. For example, it being sufficiently known that 

 Monlia fontana occurs at the sea-level, at the height of 3000 feet, and 

 at various other intermediate spots, a formal record of the height of 

 1900 feet for the same very common plant can scarcely be said to have 

 any value in science ; or, at any rate, it is not required here. On 

 examining the list by Dr. Dickie, there appears to be a difference 

 between his measurements and those made by the present writer, which 

 is of some consequence to the matter in hand. Dr. Dickie appears to 

 give considerably higher figures for the same spots; and consequently 

 also for the same plants, where his measurements do relate to their 

 actual upper limits, and not merely to the intermediate altitudes as 

 above instanced in the Montia, 



As here printed, the altitudinal figures for plants on the tract of the 

 Grampians are abbreviated from a manuscript list carried out to more 

 minute and numerous details. The measurements were originally cal- 

 culated in feet, and the estimates were made accordingly in even num- 

 bers of feet. Inhere converting them into yards, almost all fractions 

 under ten yards have been omitted. So that 1000 feet thus become 

 330 yards only, 2000 feet become 660 yards only, while 3000 feet divide 

 into the equal altitude of 1000 yards. This loss in tlie process of con- 

 verting feet into yards, and dropping the units, occasionally gives an 

 appearance of mis-position to names in the list, where one stands above 

 another on account of a small difference in the number of feet for the 

 first or second figure. Haifa dozen species are here subjoined from 

 the manuscript list, with their altitudes, as an example of the data from 

 which that of the preceding pages is abbreviated : — 



Calluna vulgaris, 3300. 3250. 3200. 3170. 3140. 2950. 2900. etc. 



Juniperus nana, 2700. 2666. 2600. 2480. 2400. 



Erica Tetralix, 2370. 2280. 2162. 2100. 2100. 2060. 2050. etc. 



Erica cinerea, 2200. 2200. 2150. 2078. 2068. 2050. 2000 ? etc. 



Pteris aquilina, 1920. 1720. 1604. 1600. 1560. 1500. 1500. etc. 



Myrica Gale, 1700. 1617. 1550. 1490. 1350. 1346. 1307. etc. 

 The altitudes for many of the alpine or sub-arctic plants may perhaps 

 he understated. The difiBculties and risks of fracture, which attend the 

 transport of delicate glass instruments among rocks and precipices, pre- 

 sented a serious practical impediment to their use in such situations ; 



