The Rev. Dr. Hincks on the Flora of Ireland. 135 



O. B. T. M. 



Orders. G. Sp. G. Sp. G. Sp. 



84. Asphodeleaj 3 I 3 4 3 6 



85. Smilacese 2 2 00 2 2 



86. Butomeee 11 11 11 



87. Restiaceee 11 



88. Juncese 2 5 3 14 3 16 



89. Gramineaj . . 9 10 27 73 30 80 



90. Cyperacese 3 5 8 56 8 66 



91. Filices 13 18 13 25 15 32 



92. Lycopodiacese ..12 14 14 



93. Marsiliatese 11 2 2 



94. Equisetacese 14 16 18 



95. Characese 12 15 17 



In the preceding list Mr. Mackay's Flora is taken as the 

 basis, and no plant is admitted in any order which he has 

 not inserted; of course additions might have been made of 

 plants recorded as found by the older botanists ; and while a 

 very few are omitted in Mr. M/s work, which Mr. T. con- 

 sidered as natives, many were passed over by him which he 

 did not recognise as native, and did not insert in his list. 

 Again, a few were omitted which he had entered on the au- 

 thority of Plantae Rariores, or other authorities, but had not 

 verified. On the other hand, a few may have been reckoned 

 which he did not find till after 1804 ; but, on the whole, I 

 believe the first list contains a fair statement of what was 

 known of the botany of Ireland previous to 1780, including 

 the discoveries of Smith and others ; the second, a fair state- 

 ment of what was known to Mr. Templeton and his corre- 

 spondents previous to 1804, when Mr. Mackay came to Ire- 

 land ; and the third, the number of plants in each natural 

 order contained in Mr. Mackay's work, without including a 

 few additions that have been since made*. It will appear that 

 the old botanists were peculiarly deficient in water-plants, 

 and in the grass, and grass-like tribes, whilst the late discri- 

 mination, and consequent increase of species, must tend to 

 swell the apparent difference. Many plants may still be 

 added, but the fact that the Flora of Ireland was not so neg- 

 lected as some imagined, will, I trust, be made evident by 

 the statements in the preceding paper and lists. 



I have now, gentlemen, with best wishes for the success 

 of your useful publication, to subscribe myself your obedient 

 servant, Thomas D. Hincks. 



Belfast, May 6, 1840. Cor. Sec. Belfast Botanical Society. 



* The list of course includes all discovered after 1 804, which are con- 

 tained in Mr. M.'s work, whether discovered by Mr. M. himself, Mr. Tem- 

 pleton, Mr. Drummond of Cork, Mr. Moore, or others to whom Mr. M. 

 has assigned them. 



