NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 
85 
LETTEE XLII. 
TO THE SAME. 
Selborne, March 9th, 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 I 
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. 
