18 Proceedings of the Royal Society 
Argyllshire, which is bounded by Loch Long and Loch Fine, 
with the island of Bute. 
The maps on the 25-inch scale ai;e advanced still farther, 
especially when it is considered that this large scale is not 
applicable to a great extent of mountainous, unproductive land 
throughout the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. In northern 
parts they include, besides the counties mentioned above as por- 
trayed on the 6-inch scale, that of Elgin, a third part of Inver- 
ness, most of the Argyllshire mainland, but none of its islands ; 
and, very far north indeed, the Survey now extends to a small 
patch comprising the central parish of Watten in Caithness, 
which thus hangs “en 1’air,” far remote from every other indica- 
tion on the index map of Ordnance Survey operations. Very 
singular are the omissions in the more southerly counties. Fife is 
altogether excluded ; so is Kinross, and so are Mid-Lothian and 
East Lothian, four of the most purely agricultural counties; to 
which must he added the more chequered shires of Kirkcudbright 
and Wigtown. Perhaps these rich districts are already so far 
provided with every desideratum which an accurate and minute 
survey is intended to promote, — roads are so abundant and perfect, 
railways so numerous, water-supply so complete, field-drains so 
perfect, estates so well surveyed by their possessors, — that such 
counties may be left by Government to look after themselves. 
But there should be better reasons, I imagine, for districts of so 
great importance being left so long unprovided with that scale of 
survey and map for which they are peculiarly fitted. 
A single word more on this subject. How is the 25-inch survey 
to be made accessible in Scotland? By individuals purchasing 
such of the separate maps as they severally need ? But there are 
various professions whose members may require to consult very 
many, and to have access, at one time or another, to all. But no 
such individual can afford to pay L.1500, the price of a complete 
set of 25-inch maps, or the space for preserving them conveniently 
accessible. It would surely be no unreasonable demand on the 
parental care of Government that a complete set should be made 
accessible to the public at Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Aberdeen. 
I understand that some such boon has been asked for, but 
declined. 
