^\j^ gtrt^lj Jlaturalt^t* 



Vol. IV. MAY, 1895. No. 5. 



AI.BXANDKR GOODMAN MORE, 



F.R.S.E., F.I,.S., M.R.I.A. 



Irish Natural History has sustained the severest blow it could 

 well receive in the death of Alexander Goodman More, for it 

 may be truly said that no naturalist ever had the same reliable 

 grasp of the flora as well as the fauna of this country as he 

 possessed. 



A. G. More was born in London on Septembers, 1830. He 

 was the son of Alexander More of Malvern, and grandson 

 of Alexander More, Collector of Customs, Aberdeen, great- 

 grandson of Gilbert More of Readen, Aberdeen, and on the 

 grandmother's side of Alexander Innes of Breda and Cowie. 



From 1836 to 1841 he resided at Renens near Lausanne with 

 his parents and also with M. Germond, who was his tutor at 

 Yvonnand and Echallens. At Renens he became acquainted 

 with the Shawe-Taylors of Castle Taylor, Co. Galway. This 

 intimacy, which was continued through life, was probably the 

 primary cause of his coming to live in Ireland. 



While in Switzerland his taste for Natural History early 

 showed itself in the collection of butterflies. In 1841 he went 

 to Mr. Bailey's school at Clifton, and there prepared for Rugby, 

 to which he went in 1844, his parents residing in the Isle of 

 Wight. Five years were spent at Rugby. More became head 

 of his house (Rev. Charles Mayor's) and first Grecian 

 Scholar. 



In 1846 he tells us in a brief private diary — which will, 

 hereafter, be frequently quoted — ''Taste for birds first began 

 from being anxious to know all about a Nuthatch I had shot, 

 which I compared with, and found out in Bewick." In 1848 

 Eyton's supplement to "Bewick," Selby's ''British Orni- 

 thology," and St. John's "Highland Sports," were purchased, 

 and More " began to study birds more carefully." 



