28o The Irish Natiualist. [Decembef, 



The table of distribution follows exactly tlie form adopted 

 ill the old edition. It might have been clearer and have looked 

 better if the unnecessar}^ vertical lines had been omitted, and 

 if a dash or double dot had been inserted in each space not 

 occupied b}^ a number. In genera of sparse distribution, such 

 as Rubies or Hicraciiun, it is impossible to carry the eye 

 horizontally across all the blank spaces and accurately pick up 

 a " 12 " at the opposite edge of the page. The table well shows 

 our increased knowledge of Irish plant-distribution. Taking 

 a couple of typical orders, we find that the district-records in 

 the new edition run from 20 to 30 per cent, more than those 

 in the old. 



To come now to the main part of the book. Though in 

 general arrangement and appearance it closely resembles the 

 old edition, a number of important points invite comment. 

 First, as to nomenclature. On this important subject, the 

 editors had best be allowed to speak for themselves : — 



"A widely familiar and long established name has always 

 been allowed to stand when the only reason to be urged 

 against its retention was the existence of an earlier published 

 name, long since become obsolete and never admitted to 

 general currency. Whatever may be the final result of the 

 resuscitation of such obsolete or vStill-borii names in obedience 

 to the strict letter of the law of priority, the immediate effect 

 must be to cause that confusion which the law was designed 

 to prevent or to remove." Thus, the familiar names of the 

 first edition are in many cases with us still, and we cannot 

 say we are sorry to see them ; they stand like friendly beacons 

 amid the troubled sea of Hawkweed and Bramble segregates, 

 and recall the happy days of childhood, when Flowers of the 

 Field supplied our simple needs, and St. Dabeoc's Heath 

 was Dabeoeia, and the Sand-Spurrey was neither Buda nor 

 Tisza nor Corion nor Lepigomcvi. Another point concerning 

 nomenclature, and one which we welcome as one of the most 

 charming and important novelties in the book, is the citation 

 of the Irish names of plants, when such were obtainable. 

 The names are printed in Celtic character, with a phonetic 

 English rendering, and a translation where such was possible. 

 Many of these names are both apt and picturesque. The 



