NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 109 



LETTER XLII. 



TO THE SAME. 



SELBORNE, March gth, 1774. 



DEAR SIR, Some future faunist, a man of fortune, will, I hope, 

 extend his visits to the kingdom of Ireland ; a new field and a 

 country little known to the naturalist.* He will not, it is to be 

 wished, undertake that tour unaccompanied by a botanist, because 

 the mountains have scarcely been sufficiently examined ; and the 

 southerly counties of so mild an island may possibly afford some 

 plants little to be expected within the British dominions. A person 

 of a thinking turn of mind will draw many just remarks from the 

 modern improvements of that country, both in arts and agriculture, 

 where premiums obtained long before they were heard of with us. 

 The manners of the wild natives, their superstitions, their prejudices, 

 their sordid way of life, will extort from him many useful reflections. 

 He should also take with him an able draughtsman ; for he must by 

 no means pass over the noble castles and seats, the extensive and 

 picturesque lakes and waterfalls, and the lofty stupendous moun- 

 tains, so little known, and so engaging to the imagination when 

 described and exhibited in a lively manner ; such a work would be 

 well received. 



As I have seen no modern map of Scotland, I cannot pretend to 

 say how accurate or particular any such may be ; but this I know, 

 that the best old maps of that kingdom are very defective. 



* Since the date of these letters we have had several excellent inquirers into the natural 

 history of Ireland, and the present century has seen her possessed of a Zoologist in one of 

 her own sons, who, in private character and scientific acquirements, would have done 

 honour to any country. William Thompson, Esq., of Belfast, devoted himself to the 

 pursuits of literature and science, with the view of publishing the "Zoology" of his 

 native island. He prepared himself for the task by every opportunity of study, and by 

 expeditions through various parts of Europe. His researches were communicated from 

 time to time to the British Association and other learned societies, and generally appeared 

 in their Proceedings, or in the Zoological periodicals of the day; and before his death he 

 had completed and published the "Ornithology of Ireland" in three volumes, a work 

 replete with information. Materials for the other departments of zoology had been 

 collected, and were in a state of preparation to continue the work, and we understand 

 that these have been entrusted to the care of friends and trustees, who have undertaken 

 the charge of their publication. 



