n8 Alexander Goodman More. [i860 



kind offer of Puffin-heads. Bond says he matched the identical bird 

 in the Museum, with G. R. Gray to back him. From this I do not see 

 we can appeal, but Mr. Bond says the different ages of the two are not yet 

 understood. Have you ever tried for a "Muckle-bill" Puffin in the 

 north of Scotland? lam glad to hear you believe in Brunnich's Guillemot. 

 I did not exactly mean'to dispute its specific value, not knowing the bird 

 sufficiently. . . . How lucky you ornithers are, not to be bothered with 

 twice as many false species as there are real ones. Have you read 

 Darwin's book ?. I am at work reviewing it. ... Please remember me 

 most kindly to your brother Edward, and tell him of our becoming 

 acquainted, and what hopes you have of converting the " botanist." 



In several later letters there were bantering references 

 to the fate of slighted " Hesperus" ; only one aspect of the 

 matter was too serious for joke : 



(June 2ist, 1860.} I withdrew the appeal against Falcon-slaying, 

 thinking the season is too far advanced for it to be of any use this year. 

 I am sorry to tell you the pair of Falcons which build at Freshwater 

 have again been destroyed. Both birds were trapped on the nest. 

 And I think I told you the Bembridge pair were shot long ago : so that 

 there will soon be an end of them ! 



