NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 85 



LETTEE XLIL 



TO THE SAME. 



SELBORNE, March Qth, 1775. 



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, under- 

 take 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 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. " 



The great obvious defect that I have remarked in all maps of Scotland 

 that have fallen in my way is, a want of a coloured line, or stroke, that 

 shall exactly define the just limits of that district called the Highlands. 

 Moreover, all the great avenues to that mountainous and romantic 

 country want to be well distinguished. The military roads formed by 

 General Wade are so great and Roman-like an undertaking that they 

 well merit attention. My old map, Moll's Map, takes notice of Fort 

 William, but could not mention the other forts that have been erected 

 long since ; therefore a good representation of the chain of forts should 

 not be omitted. 



The celebrated zigzag up the Coryarich must not be passed over. 

 Moll takes notice of Hamilton and Drumlanrig, and such capital houses ; 



* 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 acquire- 

 ments, 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. 



