DIE VEGETATION DER ERDE 
205 
forms the first part of the subject-matter. The second part com¬ 
prises a systematically arranged account of the groups and families 
represented in the flora, but the greater part of the text is included 
in part iii., a descriptive account of the various plant formations, with 
photographic illustrations and lists of the characteristic species. 
Part iii. includes a list of the endemic genera, and also of the local 
plant names. At the end of the volume are three maps indicating 
phases of geographic distribution. 
BOOK-NOTES, NEWS, etc. 
The problem of the origin and distribution of the British Flora 
has long attracted the attention of geologists and botanists, and 
references to the work of the late Mr. Clement Beid, Dr. Stapf, and 
others on this subject have appeared from time to time in the pages 
of this Journal. In a paper in the Annals of Botany for April, 
entitled “ The Distribution of certain Portions of the British Flora,” 
Mr. J. R. Matthews has renewed the attack, employing the statistical 
method. The aim of the author is not “ to solve the whole problem 
of distribution in Britain,” but “ to trace probable lines of invasion 
and inward spread ” of certain limited portions of the flora; these, 
if discoverable, may give some indication, it is believed, of the immi¬ 
gration of the British flora as a whole. With this aim in view, the 
distribution of those members of our flora (266 species) which are 
restricted to England and Wales is illustrated cartographically. They 
exhibit a concentration in the S.E. counties and diminish in numbers 
fairly regularly towards the North and West. Nearly 50 per cent, of 
these “ English ” plants are of considerable rarity, and a detailed 
analysis of this rare element seems to provide a clue to the directions 
from which many of the species came, since it is found that the 
points of arrival and establishment in England are very fairly matched 
by the European centres of distribution of the same species. An 
invasion from the east and another from the south are indicated, and 
between these two lines the main portion of the English flora has 
probably advanced. 
The Museums Journal for May endorses and reprints with en¬ 
dorsement, from The Times of March 31, a vigorous protest from 
Sir Henry Howorth against the restriction of the work and publica¬ 
tions of the British Museum on the ground of economy. “ The 
Parliamentary grant for purchases,” he says, “has been cut down 
until it has become positively ridiculous ” ; while “a paralysing hand 
has been laid upon the publication of the catalogues of the collec¬ 
tions, a number of which have been hung up, with a serious loss to 
all students and the waste of excellent material waiting to be pub¬ 
lished.” Moreover, the valuable annual Blue-book, “ containing an 
account of what has been done in the Museum, and a list with 
the description of what has been added to the collection, with a 
special reference to the donors of different objects .... has been cut 
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