Frequent returns of deafness incommode me sadly, and half disqualify me as a naturalist; for, when those fits are upon me, I lose all the pleasing notices and little intimations arising from rural sounds; and May is to me as silent and mute with respect to the notes of birds, &c. as August. My eyesight is, thank God, quick and good; but with respect to the other sense, I am, at times, disabled:

"And Wisdom at one entrance quite shut out."

SELBORNE, Sept. 13, 1774.

JOME 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 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

*Thomson's "Birds of Ireland" leaves little to be desired so far as the ornithology of that country is concerned; its fauna has also been included in all recent contributions to British natural history. The pages of Montagu, Yarrell, M'Gillivray, Morris, and Selby being enriched by able communications from that country, written by accurate observers where the writers themselves had not opportunities. These observations have been invaluable to science. At the same time, while the scientific journals are full of contributions to Irish botany, it is to be regretted that no collected series of Irish plants has been attempted.-ED.

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 will merit attention. My old map, Moll's map, takes notice of Fort William ;+ but could not mention the

Few countries have been more thoroughly investigated than Ireland has been since White wrote; its lakes, rivers, and waterfalls have become familiar both to eye and ear. The superstitions, prejudices, and the wild notions of justice, of the people equally so. Let us add a hope that its improvements in the arts and agriculture will soon be equal to its opportunities.-ED.

Two ordnance surveys of Scotland have been executed since the days when Moll's map was an authority. One of them on a scale of six inches to the mile, the other one inch, besides many local surveys; but probably none of them give a coloured line or stroke defining the limits of highlands and lowlands. Its scenery is also familiar to every tourist, and still more so to every sportsman.-ED.

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; but a new survey, no doubt, should represent every seat and castle remarkable for any great event, or celebrated for its paintings, &c. Lord Breadalbane's seat and beautiful policy are too curious and extraordinary to be omitted.

The seat of the Earl of Eglintoun, near Glasgow, is worthy of notice. The pine-plantations of that nobleman are very grand and extensive indeed.

SELBORNE, March 9, 1775.

LETTER LXV.

TO THE HONOURABLE DAINES BARRINGTON.

IN September the 21st, 1741, being then on a visit, and intent on field-diversions, I rose before daybreak: when I came

into the enclosures, I found the stubbles and clover-grounds matted all over with a thick coat of cobweb, in the meshes of which a copious and heavy dew hung so plentifully that the whole face of the country seemed, as it were, covered with two or three setting-nets drawn one over another. When the dogs attempted to hunt, their eyes were so blinded and hoodwinked that they could not proceed, but were obliged to lie down and scrape the incumbrances from their faces with their fore-feet, so that, finding my sport interrupted, I returned home musing in my mind on the oddness of the occurrence.

As the morning advanced the sun became bright and warm, and the day turned out one of those most lovely ones which no season but the autumn produces, cloudless, calm, serene, and worthy of the South of France itself.

About nine an appearance very unusual began to demand our attention, a shower of cobwebs falling from very elevated regions, and continuing, without