864 NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
With respect to altitudinal range, it is to be regretted that it is 
not added regarding each species, and this because data are in most 
cases wanting. Here botanists who feel inclined to give assistance 
have a field of great importance, almost untouched in Ireland, and 
which we can, from personal experience, recommend as adding ma- 
terially to the interest of botanical explorations. Lists of species 
growing on the tops of mountains can be easily made, and the heights 
of all these are now known; contour lines on the Ordnance map give 
at a glance lower altitudes where other lists may be made, and if the 
observer, for his own satisfaction, desires a portable instrument sufti- 
ciently accurate for the work, we can recommend the aneroid baro- 
meter. Excellent instruments can now be got about the size of a 
pocket-wateh ; the mountain barometer is an incumbrance to a botanist 
in alpine scrambles. We have found the mountain sympiesometer 
more portable, but now prefer the aneroid. 
The importance of this branch of inquiry is such that no apology 
need be made for adding here a few hints gleaned from a paper, a 
model in its way, and deserving perusal, published by Mr. H. C. 
Watson in the ‘London Journal of Botany,’ vol. i. 1842. Before 
commencing the ascent, make a note of the pressure of the atmosphere ; 
while ascending, set down in a note-book the names of all plants of 
higher ground than the starting place, in the order in which they are 
first observed. After ascending some distance make a halt, and note 
the pressure of the atmosphere, and again ascend, still writing down 
the names of plants as they successively come under view ; the summit 
of the hill being reached, after alternate stoppages and ascents, the 
pressure of the air is again to be noted, and as complete a list as pos- 
sible is made of plants growing close round the summit: On the de- - 
scent the same plan is pursued, except that the names of all plants not 
observed on the summit are duly entered in the note-book, in the order 
of their first appearance, that is, of their highest observed limits along 
the track passed over. On again reaching the original starting-place, 
the pressure of the atmosphere is carefully noted, a point of impor- 
tance, because it may have altered since the first observation was made. 
Stoppages during ascent and descent are recommended to be made at 
the first station for any shrub or other plant whose exact limit we may 
desire to ascertain. It need scarcely be stated that the height of the 
starting-point above the level of the sea must be added. 
