32 
EXPLANATIONS OF THE CATALOGUF.. 
(Dumfries, Wiglon, Kirkcudbright, Lanark, Ayr, Renfrew) ; 14. East Lowland 
(Berwick, Roxburgh, Selkirk, Peebles, Haddington, Edinburgh, Linlithgow); 15. 
East Highland (Perth, Stirling, Forfar, Kincardine, Aberdeen, Banff, Elgin, Easter- 
ness) ; 16. West Highland (Argyle, Arran, Islay, Mull, Skye, Westerness); 17A. 
Upper North ILighland (Sutherland, Caithness) ; 1713. Lower North Highland (Ross- 
shire) ; i8a, Llebridean i8b. Orhne}' {ls,les) ; i8c. Shetland {Isles). 
In this first attempt at an outline of the distribution of mosses and hepatics it is 
likely that omissions may have occurred, and possibly a few errors have crept in, which 
will be detected and corrected at a future time, but great care has been taken in 
examining specimens where doubts existed, in order to prevent the extension of false 
records, as far as lay in the Editors’ power. The information from the various provinces 
is very unequal : from those of the Ouse (4), South Welsh (6), and Orkney (iSb), 
especially, is it small. 
Coadjutors in the Work. — Knowing that Union, even in a matter so apparently 
simple as a catalogue of the species of a country with a census of their range therein — 
if such work, when completed, was to occupy anything like the position of a reliable 
register, gives a strength not possibly attainable otherwise, the editor, in his capacity of 
general superintendent, has not hesitated to seek aid outside the ranks of the Record 
Club membership. Besides the Club’s Referees — Mr. Henry Boswell, of Oxford, in 
the sphere of mosses, and Dr. Benj. Carrington, of Eccles, in that of hepatics — 
acknowledgment of indebtedness and sincere thanks on the Club’s behalf must be 
given to several gentlemen (all with special knowledge of the points on which their 
help was sought) for material assistance freely rendered, especially with regard to the 
census of distribution. Foremost amongst these is the Rev'. J. Fergusson, of Fern, who, 
apart from valuable facts as to new species, marked for the Club a catalogue showing 
the provincial distribution throughout Britain of all species so far as known to him, by 
doing which he unselfishly made available for the editors’ use a large store of inform- 
ation amassed for a forthcoming work of his own, helping the Club in this respect 
to forestall an outline of distribution he plans publishing. Other helpers who have 
willingly given assistance to the best of their ability have been found in Messrs. J. E. 
Bagnall, W. Curnow, W. H. Pearson, John Ralfs, Geo. Stabler, William West, and 
John Whitehead, and suggestions have kindly been made in the course of the work 
l)y Drs. Braithwaite, H. F. Parsons, and Spruce, and Messrs. E. M. Holmes, E. D. 
Marquand, and Matthew B. Slater. To have furnished the outline of distribution 
would have been impossible without the hearty co-operation of all concerned, given 
ungrudgingly in face of the fact that it would be impossible in the united result to 
discern the relative amount or value of each individual quota. Every contributor must 
be content with equal share of credit. The very various data of each contributor, all 
drawn from personal knowledge, have, in one way or another, siqiplemented those from 
the rest, and the aid rendered by any single one could have been but ill spared. The 
experiment has been a novel one, not carried out without difficulties, for contributors’ 
“views” will prove difficult to reconcile sometimes; but the result, if it be at all 
successful, must be held to say something in favour of such botanical partnership as 
the Record Club alone amongst scientific associations affords the facility for. Although 
views as to what constitutes a species, or as to the claims of priority in nomenclature, 
may differ, “splitters,” “resurrectionists,” and the rest may yet unite their forces for 
a common end, and work amicably together. 
Suggestions, corrections, or inquiries relating to the nomenclature or distribution 
of any of the species mentioned in the Catalogue may be addressed to either of the 
Referees or to the Editor — 
F. Arnold Lees, 
November., 1880. Wetherby, Yorkshire. 
