III. FLORA OF BRITAIN. 411 



sion of Corsican plants and some others. Scandinavia 

 includes Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland ; the 

 ordinal numbers being derived from the ' Summa Vegeta- 

 bilium ' by Fries, with some few omissions and changes. 



An intelligent reader will perceive the peculiarities 

 which distinguish the British series of orders in either 

 table from the other two, without explanation in much 

 detail. Some few may be mentioned, by way of illus- 

 trating the use and pm-port of the arrangement. It is 

 curious that in some respects the relative position of 

 orders for Britain should resemble their position for the 

 whole earth, more than for Europe. In the first table 

 Filices stand 8 for the earth generally, 11 for Britain; 

 •while they do not come among the 28 predominant orders 

 in Europe ; being only no. 29, if the series had been 

 continued. The Orchidacece likewise hold a position in 

 the British series much above their position in Europe ; 

 in this respect approaching nearer to their estimated 

 position in the vegetable kingdom at large. As no. 4 in 

 the latter, however, the order probably stands too high ; 

 Dr. Lindley's familiarity with the species having likely 

 led him to estimate their numbers too high in comparison 

 with those for some of the other orders. Indeed, it is 

 to be borne in recollection that the figures following the 

 names in the first column are all of them estimates only, 

 and unavoidably of unequal reliance. 



In the other comparative arrangement, table second, 

 the resemblance is closer between the series for Britain 

 and for Scandinavia, than it is between either of these 

 and Middle Europe. Comjjositce and Rosacecs stand on 

 the same lines for both. Cyperoides and Gramina come 

 between those two orders, though with a change of place 

 between themselves. Nos. 1 to 4 thus present the same 

 four orders for the two countries. From 5 to 14 the 



