.V. 



191 1- Adams. — A Cens,us of Irish Cjyptogams. 89 



Supplement for 1901-1905, and additional information 

 published since in the Irish Naturalist. 



Such a stocktaking might well be made every five or at 

 least every ten years and woiild show what progress has 

 been made in the past, and at the same time indicate to 

 students of geographical distribution what parts of the 

 country would best repay investigation in the future. The 

 present time, when the first ten years of the century have 

 been completed, seems opportune for such a review, 

 especially in view of the fact that the results of the 

 biological survey of Clare Island and neighbourhood will 

 shortly be published and the additions made to our 

 knowledge of the flora of Ireland in general, of Connaught, 

 and of Mayo as a result of that survey will be better 

 appreciated. 



In the summary of distribution of species I have 

 adopted the divisions of the country into provinces and 

 sub -provinces proposed by me in the Irish Naturalist for 

 August, 1908, and January, 1909. The boundaries of 

 these divisions may be seen at a glance on the accompan^'ing 

 map which is reproduced by the kind permission of the 

 Royal Irish Academy. 



The figures in each group for the sub-provinces, 

 the provinces, and for the whole of Ireland are given in 

 the subjoined tables (pp. 90-92). 



A glance at these figures will show that very little is 

 still known of the cryptogamic flora of half the area of 

 Ireland. It would scarcely be prudent, however, to draw 

 any further conclusions. Of the four provinces the largest 

 number of species appears to be possessed by Leinster. 

 This is doubtless due to the fact that the district around 

 Dublin has been better investigated than other parts of 

 Ireland, just as Ulster has the priority in Mosses for the 

 obvious reason that two of the most eminent bryologists 

 live in that province. Munster has the largest total of 

 Lichens and Liverworts at present. In the case of Lichens 

 the priority may pass to Connaught when the Clare Island 

 investigations are completed. But it would be idle to 

 speculate at present as to what Province possesses the 

 largest Cryptogamic Flora. 



