This statement is indeed scarcely more than a truism, for if a variety were found to have a wider range than that of its supposed parent-species, their denominations would be reversed.

But there is reason to believe that the species which are very closely allied to other species, and in so far resemble varieties, often have much restricted ranges.

For instance, Mr. H. C. Watson has marked for me in the well-sifted London catalogue of Plants (4th edition) sixty-three plants which are therein ranked as species, but which he considers as so closely allied to other species as to be of doubtful value: these sixty-three reputed species range on an average over 6.

9 of the provinces into which Mr. Watson has divided Great Britain.

Now, in this same catalogue, fifty-three acknowledged varieties are recorded, and these range over 7.