42 
The Irish Natmalisi. 
February, 
The Numbering of the County Divisions of Ireland. 
The recent discussion in this Journal on the above subject is just as 
important to zoologists as to botanists ; for zoologists have long wished 
for a better method of illustrating geographical distribution than was 
supplied by the only scheme which till recently was available — namely, 
that used by the Conchological Society, which was a modification of 
Babington's scheme. In this the vice-counties of Great Britain are 
numbered from south to north i to 112, according to Watson's plan, 
while Ireland follows on, being numbered from north to south 113 to 
148 — a' wholly unscientific plan. As for the Conchological vSociety's 
Census and Taylor's Monograph (the former was begun as a preparation 
for the latter), such an immense amount of work had already been 
registered on the old system, that to convert it at the last moment 
into Praeger's system would have involved very heavy labour, and been 
in some cases impossible, where the partitioned counties were con- 
cerned. 
Speaking for myself, and many friends in England and Ireland who 
are working at the distribution of Mollusca, we are pleased with 
Praeger's improved system, by which we can more readily compare the 
fauna of similarly-situated districts in the two islands. No protest 
against the plan was made when it was tentatively published in 1896; 
and it is now quite clear that we have a .system given us on which both 
botanists and zoologists can work wnth advantage. 
In referring to their proper divisions, under Praeger's scheme, many 
of the old records for the partitioned counties, in connection with the 
forthcoming revision of the Irish Land and Fresh- water Mollusca, con- 
siderable difficulty is being experienced. But Dr. Scharflf and those who 
are assisting him, so far as I am aware, are of opinion that it is well 
worth the trouble. 
As regards the conchologists on whose behalf I have ventured to 
write, Mr. Waddell may rest assured that they are not working on 
narrow lines. Several are hard at work on north England as well as 
north Ireland, another on south England and Ireland north, east, and 
west; and most have since 1896 so registered their records that they 
may be published on Praeger's plan, and according to the suggestion 
which he made in this Journal for October last, vol. xiv., p. 220. 
R. WeIvCH. 
Belfast. 
BOTANY. 
Asplenium Ruta-muraria on Achill Island. 
This fern has, like Ceterach officinaruni, penetrated to Achill, presumably 
since mortar-built walls were erected there. Mr, T. Watts has sent me a 
specimen from the yard wall of the Rectory at Dugort. The occurrence 
