THE LATE .TAMES BACKHOUSE. 355 



Lychnis alpina L., and Aquilegia were gathered in Cumberland. In 

 1869, Trichomanes radicans Sw. was gathered in Wales, and Ajuga 

 pyramidalis L., Putentilla fruticosa L., and Dryas octopetala L., "all 

 in the Lake District." Wales was again visited in 1871, when 

 "two fresh patches of Trichomanes in ... . station with T. West- 

 combe and Theodore" were found. Beyond 1871 this interesting 

 record does not go, but no one can glance through the brief resume 

 here given without realizing the extent and importance of the work 

 accomplished for British field botany by the two Backhouses. 

 In the numerous papers he wrote for the ' Phytologist ' * and 

 ' Botanical Gazette,' vol. hi. p. 43, will be found graphic and 

 interesting details concerning many of the above noteworthy 

 discoveries. 



His knowledge of Scotland was so profound that on one occasion, 

 when a prominent Scottish botanist was asked by a fellow-student 

 whom he considered to have the best knowledge of Scotland 

 botanically, he unhesitatingly named Mr. Backhouse. In North 

 Wales, too, so careful was his search for the Killarney Fern that 

 over many miles of country his knowledge extended to every stream. 



Mr. Backhouse's chief reputation as a botanist, however, will 

 rest on his well-known ' Monograph of the British Hieracia,' pub- 

 lished in 1856. Until that time but little attention had been given 

 to this critical genus. Those only who have made a special study 

 of such a genus can appreciate the difficulty of collecting, separating, 

 and reducing to systematic order a mass of material of which so 

 little was previously known. This book is a monument to the 

 honest, accurate, and painstaking work of its author, no less than 

 to his keen powers of perception, and ability to describe what he 

 saw. There are here described no less than twelve new species, all 

 of which have borne the test of severe criticism, and are now 

 accorded a permanent place in our Flora. 



Although able to take long walks in the mountains, Mr. Back- 

 house was always more or less of an invalid. For this reason 

 he visited little, and was personally known to but few botanists, 

 though greatly beloved by all who had the privilege of his 

 acquaintance. He showed at all times the keenest possible interest 

 in his favourite studies, on which he conversed with great vivacity. 

 Extreme accuracy characterized all his work, and the writer will 

 never forget the minute directions he was able to give to insure the 

 finding of some of his favourite plants, many of which he was in 

 the habit of visiting year after year to assure himself that they had 

 not fallen a prey to the greedy collector. 



Botany, however, was by no means Mr. Backhouse's sole 

 interest. The beautiful private museum attached to his house 

 testifies to his varied tastes and knowledge. The fine geological 

 collections from the caves he discovered and explored year after 

 year in Upper Teesdale, together with the antiquarian objects of 

 interest from all parts of the world, will well repay a visit. 



* • J'hytologist,' 1846, pp. 422 and 579 ; 1*17. p. 1044 ; 1849, pp. 441, 475, 

 544; 1850, p. 768; 1852, p. 606; 1858, p. 804; 1861, p. 308; 1862, p. 80. 



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