IV. EXPLANATIONS. 349 



while many of the alpine plants are now almost confined to the steeper 

 precipices, in spots out of the reach of sheep. The greater number of 

 such alpiniferous rocks, about the tract of the Grampians, range between 

 800 and 1000 yards of altitude ; and a medium height being taken in 

 many cases of uncertainty, the figure of 900 yards occurs frequently in 

 the list under explanation. The Gentiana nii-alis may afford rather an 

 extreme example. The only spot in which it has been picked by the 

 author of this work, was on the rocks of Canlochen glen, in Forfarshire. 

 The top of those precipitous rocks was short of 1000 yards by measure- 

 ment; and the Gentiana was observed much below the top. The heiglit 

 of 900 yards is doubtless exceeded elsewhere, as may be seen by re- 

 ference to the detailed notice of the plant in volume second, page 172. 



2. Upper limits in North England. — The arrangement here is nearly 

 similar to that of the latter portion of the antecedent list. Condensa- 

 tion is sought by placing two names on the same line, and giving the 

 altitudes and temperatures in steps of 50 yards as sectional titles. The 

 altitudes are repeated after the technical names, and occasionally carried 

 up to the lens instead of fifties, with a signification by place which 

 requires to be explained. The Jirst numerals after the name of a jdant 

 relate to the Lake province exclusively, that is, to the counties of Cum- 

 berland and Westmoreland taken together. The second numerals 

 relate exclusively to North Yorkshire, that is, to the northern portion of 

 the Humber province. If only a single altitudinal figure is given, the 

 place of the absent one is indicated by three dots. Thus " 1050. ..." 

 signifies thai Carex rigida has been seen at so many yards in the Lake 

 province ; no altitude in Yorkshire having been ascertained for if, if it 

 occurs at all in that county. Conversely, "...600" signifies that 

 Bartsia alpina or Carex capillaris (page 336) has been observed at 600 

 yards in Yorkshire ; not observed in the Lake province, or observed only 

 at an altitude not known. 



A copious list of plants, indicating the heights at which they had 

 been noted in Yorkshire, was kindly furnished to this work by Mr. J. G. 

 Baker ; who was requested to indicate them by steps of 50 yards. 

 Several considerations combine to render it a matter of comparatively 

 little importance at present to seek them in more precise figures. The 

 second figures after the names in the list are drawn exclusively from 

 Mr. Baker's list. The heights for the Lake province were ascertained 

 by the present writer, partly by the barometer, partly by the sympieso- 



