REVIEW 247 



REVIEW. 



LIFE AND LETTERS OF ALEXANDER GOODMAN MORE, F.R.S.E., 

 F.L.S., M.R.I. A. With Selections from his Zoological and Botanical 

 Writings. Edited by G. B. Moffat, B.A. With a Preface by Frances 

 M. More. (Dublin : Hodges, Figgis, & Co., Ltd., 1898.) 



The volume before us is a fitting record of the labours of one 

 who was a worthy successor to the late William Thompson as our 

 leading authority on all subjects connected with Irish Natural 

 History. And in many ways More was Thompson's superior, for 

 his interests were far wider, extending as they did to Botany as well 

 as to Zoology, in both of which branches of natural science as far 

 as concerned Ireland More had no equals. 



But it was not only in his own work that More's labours were 

 so successfully expended, for he had a wonderful power of attracting 

 to himself workers in all branches of Irish Natural History, to 

 whom it was his delight to suggest lines of research. Although he 

 never really enjoyed robust health, and was seldom able himself to 

 undertake long or arduous expeditions, his interest in the work of 

 others never flagged, and his readiness to help less experienced or 

 younger naturalists was such that for many years his room at the 

 Museum (and later in Leinster Road) was recognised as a sort of 

 meeting-place for all who were interested in Natural History : a 

 place where expeditions were planned, and results brought in and 

 discussed. During this period, hardly a paper on Irish Natural 

 History was published that had not received the benefit of More's 

 advice, or, perhaps, of his actual revision. 



Hence it is that the book before us teems with interest for 

 students of all branches of Natural History, and is so different from 

 the number of dry volumes produced nowadays for the eyes of 

 narrow specialists. Not a little of our pleasure in reading the 

 volume was derived from the light thrown by it on much that 

 appertains to the historical part of the subject a matter too often 

 neglected or untouched of late years. Here we learnt much that 

 was new to us of the past generation of British Zoologists and 

 Botanists, and a great deal more about those who are still working 

 in the same field. 



Very great credit is due to Miss More and Mr. G. B. Moffat 

 for the way in which they have accomplished their task. Great as 

 were the opportunities of producing a good book, all have been 

 made use of in a manner only possible to those who are thoroughly 

 conversant with Irish Natural History in all its phases, and we are 

 indebted to them for what we must regard as the most important 

 work on Irish Natural History as a whole since the appearance of 

 Thompson's " Natural History of Ireland." G. E. H. B. H. 



