114 DISTRIBUTION, ETC. 



A large number of British plants would appear to be 

 wanting in France, according to the estimate of 1300 

 species only. This is caused by the omission of many 

 uncertain species of Salix, Rosa, Rubus, Carex, Myosotis, 

 &c, in the Botanicon Gallicum. Had the authors of 

 that work been equal adepts at hair-splitting, as are some 

 of the botanists of Britain and Germany, the number 

 might have exceeded 1400. But omitting doubtful spe- 

 cies, and many of those having the most doubtful claims 

 to rank as Britons, the actual number common to France 

 and Britain will sink below 1200. To a greater or less 

 extent the same uncertainty applies to the numbers for 

 every country named. 



