154 The Irish Nattualist. Juh-, 



THE PLANTS OF THE WEST. 



A Tourist's Flora of The West of Ireland. Hy Robert 

 I,r,OVD I'KAKGKK. Dublin, 1909. Hodges. I'iggis, & Co., ^s. 6(L net. 

 Pp. xii., 253. 5 Coloured Map?, 27 plates, and other illustrations. 



We have to thank Mr. Praeger for a most valuable and charming 

 handbook, well and concisely written, brimful of information, clearly 

 printed on good paper, and marvellously cheap. It will amply repay 

 careful reading, is indispensable for all who wish to explore the botany 

 of a very remarkable district, and should be bought and studied by 

 everyone who is interested in the flora of the British Isles. 



This work is compiled, mainly from statistics already published (full 

 credit being given to other authors and observers), on a new plan ; being 

 divided into three sections, each with its ow^n index; — i. Introduction, 

 witli a general account of the district, and of its physical and botanical 

 characters ; 2. Topographical, with brief accounts of over 100 selected 

 areas ; and 3. vSystematic, dealing with the distribution of the separate 

 species. These, native or fully naturalised, amount to just t,ooo (using 

 the term species or subspecies in rather a wide sense), besides 84 casual 

 aliens, and many varieties and hybrids ; the average number at present 

 recorded for each division being 665. The nomenclature is old-fashioned, 

 but this is no diawback, as in all cases of difference the name adopted 

 in the tenth edition of the London Catalogue has been appended. The 

 photographic plates of rare plants /// situ, taken by Mr. R. Welcli, are of 

 extraordinary merit and beauty ; the other illustrations and the maps 

 are equall}' good in their different ways. 



The counties dealt w'ith are Limerick, Clare, Galway, Roscommon, 

 Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim, and Fermanagh ; the other western ones (Donegal, 

 Kerry, and Cork) belong respectively to N. and S. Ireland. 



The whole of the Introduction deserves careful reading ; perhaps the 

 most interesting pages (24 to 31) are those which deal with the peculiar 

 features of the flora and with its probable origin. As is well known, in 

 this district northern, south-western, and American groups of plants 

 occur, often together, in a way which has no parallel in Kuroi:)e, if 

 indeed anywhere in the world. Attention is rightly drawn to the fact 

 that the fauna shows somewhat similar tendencies. 



In the Topographical Section each of the 11 vice-counties is first briefly 

 dealt with ; this summary is followed by a more detailed account of 

 the various areas in it selected for special treatment. Mr. Praeger has 

 an unrivalled acquaintance with, practically, the whole of these; having 

 for many years past spent the bulk of his leisure time in energetic 

 exploration. Helpful notes are given as to the best centres for w^ork, 

 hotel accommodation, and the like; and attention is called, wherever it 

 seemed desirable, to the need of further exploration. After all the work 

 already done, there can be no doubt that many discoveries remain in 

 store ; and one of the most valuable points about this book is that it 

 will serve as an excellent basis and guide for more minute research. 



