51 



restricted to one wood in Yorkshire, where (I have heard) the 

 owner of the ground watches over and strictly preserves the 

 few plants growing there still. 



More to our present purpose, however, is a record of the 

 last Scotch Fir seen in Ireland. It is said that " in ancient 

 times all Ireland was full of woods on every side ; " * and 

 there is no question but there were formerly forests of 

 firs there, as well as in England. Moref gives a few 

 localities in which till lately they were still found ; adding — 

 " There is one large and old fir tree, supposed to be a last relic 

 of the ancient forests, still growing on an open bog ... in 

 Mayo, and which was lately fenced in and carefully preserved by 

 the Earl of Arran, who is the owner of the land." 



I do not propose any such close imprisonment for the few 

 remaining firs on Combe Down. But I think they should be 

 looked after, and some record kept as to their existence before 

 they quite disappear. Babington makes no allusion whatever to 

 these Scotch Firs in his " Flora of Bath." Should not the matter 

 be taken up by our Club, expressly instituted for the investigation 

 of the Natural History and Antiquities of the neighbourhood of 

 Bath? There may be antiquity in trees as well as in stones. 

 My own botanising excursions have necessarily for many years 

 been discontinued ; and I was about to ask if some other of our 

 members would not make it an object of one or more of their 

 weekly walks to take a general survey of the downs, and to note 

 what trees theymight still find there and the condition they were in. 

 I have, however, been anticipated in this matter. One of our mem- 

 bers, Mr. Frederick Inman, on hearing of what I wanted, forthwith 

 kindly volunteered his services ; rambled over all the downs 

 in turn, and sent me in a statement of what he had found. He 

 has got together a good many details of much interest, and such 



• See "Ireland's Natural History" by Boate (1652), p. 119 

 t " Cybele Hibemica," p. 276. 



