Myosurus minimus, not yet found in Ireland. 

 By David Moore, Esq., xl.L.S. 



Since the publication of Mr. Watson's book on the 'Geographical 

 Distribution of British Plants,' attention has been more directed to that 

 subject than formerly, and through the means of local Floras, along 

 with individual contributions, much valuable information has been 

 obtained relative to the distribution of species, though at the same time, 

 en-ois have crept in through these sources, notwithstanding caution 

 has been used to guard against them, of which the following instance 

 will afford an example. 



In the 4th and 5th editions of Sir W. Hooker's 'British Flora,' 

 Myosurus minimus is inserted as an Irish plant, on the authority of 

 my worthy friend Mr. Niven, who, no doubt, sent the plant to Sir 

 William, from Ireland, but then he was imposed on by the person 

 who brought the specimens to him, which was done by their being first 

 taken from the botanic garden to the north, and brought back again 

 mixed up with a number of other plants, which were collected on the 

 occasion, with a label attached, distinctly stating the locality where 

 the Myosurus was picked, in the county Antrim. The collection 

 was submitted to Mr. Niven's inspection, who being thus thrown off 

 his guard, entertained no doubts of the correctness of the matter, par- 

 ticularly as the person further stated, that a friend was along with him 

 who resided near the place where they found the plant, and who on 

 being written to could forward more specimens, which was actually 

 done, making the fraud complete : anticipating this result, a quantity 

 was left for this purpose. 



Myosurus minimus is, therefore, so far as I am aware, still a 

 desideratum to the Irish Flora. Nothing could be more culpable 

 than such a trick as this, destroying as it does, the most important 

 feature of our Floras, namely, the distribution and range of the spe- 

 cies ; and none but a silly person who had no further love for the 

 science but to gain some selfish object, would be guilty of the like. 

 No doubt errors may occasionally arise without the slightest aim at 

 firaud, for instance. Ledum palustre was at one time considered an 

 Irish plant, on the authority of a gentleman who saw a piece of it 

 stuck up in a peasant's hat, when passing through a remote place in 

 Connemara, where he supposed it could not have been obtained ex- 

 cepting in a wild state; and those best acquainted with the subject 

 know, that the most accurate observers make mistakes occasionally 

 in the identity of species. 



D. MooRE. 

 Glasnevin, Nov. 1844. 



