60 ON THE BOTANICAL SUBDIVISION OF IRELAND. 



but also by the welcome visits which we have had during the past 

 two seasons from quite a number of the leading field botanists of 

 England. And if any alteration is to be made in the only county- 

 division scheme that has been put forward, then the sooner it is 

 made the better. Since it was proposed thirty-seven years ago, the 

 only published paper in which Babington's county-numbers have 

 been used is that of Messrs. Groves, already quoted. The scheme, 

 in fact, has not been generally adopted, so that no great incon- 

 venience can result from a revision of the county list ; though, if 

 this scheme had already been used in a number of papers, it would 

 be a question whether the inconvenience of any alteration of the 

 county-numbering would not outweigh the advantages of an im- 

 proved subdivision. 



These considerations have led me to put forward without further 

 delay the following revised scheme, not without a full enquiry as to 

 the value of each of the alterations which is suggested, and careful 

 consideration of its desirability. It will be most convenient to give 

 the list first, and state the reason for the changes afterwards : — 



It may be stated at once that this arrangement differs from that 

 of Babington, first, as regards the subdivision of the counties of 

 Cork, Kerry, Galway, and Donegal ; and secondly in the renumbering 

 of the counties and vice-counties according to a different plan. It 

 will be seen that the figures ascend regularly from the extreme 

 south-west of the country to the extreme north-east, the numbering 

 following a backwards-and-forwards line, irrespective of the "pro- 

 vince" boundaries. 



In working out the above scheme, the following considerations 

 influenced the subdivision of the larger counties : — 



Natural Boundaries. — Where clearly-defined natural boundaries, 

 botanical, geological, or physical, exist, it is manifestly advantageous 



