94 The Natural History 



spend their time on wild heaths and warrens j the 

 former especially, where there are stone quarries : most 

 probably it is that their maintenance arises from the 

 aurelice of the hpidopiera ordo, which furnish them with 

 a plentiful table in the wilderness. 



I am, etc. 



LETTER XLII 



TO THOMAS PENNANT, ESQUIRE 



Selborae, March 9, 177$. 

 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 unaccom- 

 panied 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 water-falls, 

 and the lofty stupendous mountains, 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. 



"rhc great obvious defect that I have remarked in all 



