A70 IV. EXPLANATIONS OF THE 
in naming and describing it with the technical rank of 
species. The ambiguity lies in the testimony to be accepted 
in evidence of its alleged localities within Britain. Looking 
to its habitats outside of Britain, there seems a geographical 
probability in favour of this country; the species having 
been found in Faroe and probably also on the Alps and 
Pyrenees. Four different localities have been reported for it 
within Britain. In a collection of “ British Plants” competing 
for a prize at a flower-show, there was a living example of this 
plant; but it was labelled “4. alpina—Wales.” Mr. J. E. Bow- 
man was cited as the authority for conjuncta having been found 
in Gatesgarth Pass or Dale, Cumberland; but he himself has 
expressly declared that the plant he brought thence was alpina, 
which remained unchanged in his garden; and Mr. Borrer 
unsuccessfully sought the conjuncta in the locality named, finding 
alpina there only. George Don distributed examples from the 
Forfarshire hills ostensibly; but Don habitually sent garden 
examples of supposed wild plants; so that his testimony alone 
goes for nothing. Mr. A. O. Black also reported the plant from 
Forfarshire, and shewed examples; but Mr. Black was convicted 
of reporting a planted American shrub as if also a true native of 
that county; so that, in relying on his testimony, we ought 
equally to include the Diervilla canadensis among truly British 
plants now and for ever. ‘Dr. Tyacke” is also stated to have 
found the plant in Arran, an island frequently visited by botanists, 
less fortunate than this Dr. Tyacke. If that habitat can be 
verified by some second collector, it will remove 4. conjuncta from 
the group of ambiguities into that of native segregates. 
Tu other cases the ambiguity inheres in the plants themselves, 
not in their localities; that is, the doubt being as to whether they 
ever existed as quasi-species anywhere, except in the printed words 
of their inventors. Through these instances, the ambiguities 
pass by insensible gradations into the segregates. Professor 
Babington described his Cerastium atrovirens and Cerastium 
pedunculatum, with usual parade of technical words; grandiose 
verbiage having a wonderful effect in decking petty varieties with 
