Topography. — In a country so little known to western travellers 

 there is naturally great difficulty in locating the mountains 

 and villages quoted by collectors, when no further indica- 

 tion is given than the sound of the Chinese name. As an in- 

 stance of this may be mentioned that, of the five or six villages 

 referred to by Dr. Tate, as the localities of his collection of 

 January, 1863, which is now preserved at Kew, not one can be 

 found on European maps. These and other similar place names are 

 quoted in the enumeration of species pending their rediscovery and 

 are included in the index with the note " not yet located." The 

 position of all other places quoted in the list are there explained, 

 further information being added when necessary in the index. Some 

 of the more important localities are shown on the map. 



The list of localities cited in the text under each species begins 

 with those in Hongkong and continues with the Hongkong New 

 Territory ; then follow the coastal regions, beginning from the east, 

 and finally inland places in order of their remoteness from the coast. 

 The area designated Hongkong refers to the island of that name, 

 which is in one of the numerous groups situated off the south-east 

 coast of China at the mouth of the Canton Biver. It is about 

 1 1 miles long by 2 to 5 broad with an area of some 30 square miles. 

 But the term usually includes the small Kowloon peninsula, a portion 

 of the mainland which approaches closely to the island, and the 

 islets of Stonecutters, ApHchau and a few others, ceded to Great 

 Britain in 1860. 



The New Territory, or New Territories as it was originally 

 called, was leased to Great Britain in 1898. It comprises about 300 

 square miles of the mainland behind or north of Kowloon, as well 

 as several adjacent islands. The largest of the latter, Laotao, is 

 larger than Hongkong Island. The eastern shores of the mainland 

 portion are washed by the waters of Mirs Bay, its western side 

 forming the eastern shore of the Canton River estuary. No special 

 reference is necessary here to the topography of the British 

 territory as excellent maps on various scales are available. Further 

 inland the location of collectors' stations is less easy, but much 

 valuable topographical information has been collected by mission- 

 aries and other residents. This and a few small-scale native maps 

 are so far our only sources of information. No general survey 

 with modern instruments has yet been made. The German and 

 French maps, on a scale of 16 miles to the inch, showing the 

 mountain ranges by shading, provide a neat and convenient summary 

 of our present knowledge of the physical features and topography 

 of the province. 



Means of Access. — The coast of Kwangtung can be reached at 

 several points by ocean-going European steamers and at frequent 

 intervals between these by Chinese launches running along the 

 coast from them. Well equipped river steamers also make regular 

 trips through the province by way of the West River. Beyond these 

 lines of communication access to the interior is provided to a 

 limited extent by Chinese rapid-boats. By means of the latter 

 the North and East Rivers and some of their tributaries as 

 well as the Han can be ascended, and the vegetation within 

 easy reach of them has been more or less explored by collectors. 



