1854] Cladium mariscus at Loughgall. 4 1 



(Veronica chamaedrys), avens (Geum urbanum and G. 

 rivale), red-rattle (Pedicularis sylvatica), milkwort (Poly- 

 gala vulgaris), sycamore, horse chesnut, lilac, and many 

 others, all previously to April 22nd, on which date the 

 hawthorn was observed to be out, along with Orchis mas- 

 cula and Chelidonium majus, closely followed on the 24th 

 by bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), bugle (Ajuga reptans), 

 broom (Cytisus scoparius), wild pansy (Viola tricolor), 

 and Hare's-tail cotton-grass (Eriophorum vaginatum). 

 The dates of all, aud indeed many more, were carefully 

 tabulated; his "Floral Calendar" for March and April 

 gives the records for 94 species. Arrivals of summer 

 migrants are also chronicled, but some of these were by 

 no means early. A white butterfly (Pieris rapae) was seen 

 on April 3rd, and the orange-tip and speckled wood on 

 the i 3th. 



The ground which had most delighted him on his 

 arrival at Loughgall lay around the shores of the lake, 

 where he hopefully looked forward to many an enjoyable 

 field day : his first visit (March gth) resulting in the dis- 

 covery of Cladium mariscus in what proved to be its first 

 and apparently its only locality in Co. Armagh fringing 

 the shore, while the sight of innumerable water-fowl stud- 

 ding the surface whetted his ornithological enthusiasm. 

 Among his first steps, after viewing the lake, were to pro- 

 cure Anderson's " Carices," and, a few days later, Walters' 

 " Birds of Ireland," which last-named little volume always 

 remained rather a favourite with him. A bird which par- 

 ticularly interested him at Loughgall was the Great Crested 

 Grebe, a pair or two of which he could generally find in 

 calm weather by exploring the smooth water of the lake 

 with a telescope : their slender white necks and beautiful 

 tippets filling him with admiration while thus unwittingly 

 displayed to close scrutiny. 



Scientific naturalists are often suspected of some want 

 of susceptibility to the charms of living nature ; but the 

 suspicion is sometimes far wide of the fact. From Mr. 

 More's published writings little could be guessed of the 

 intense delight with which he was accustomed to hail the 

 sight of a rare or beautiful bird, the hearing of an unex- 



