i860] A Reviving Mud-fish. 129 



And this, I fancy, would interfere very much with a correct outline of 

 the simultaneous advance. 



If you approve of my present scheme I shall be glad to commence 

 operations by writing to different quarters for information ; but here I 

 feel, more than ever, that it is you, not I, who ought to undertake this ; 

 since naturally the best information will come from experienced egg- 

 collectors, among whom you have so great acquaintance, and I hardly 

 any. Still if you wish me to attempt the " Cybele " of our British 

 birds, it would be of the greatest service if you will kindly help me, in 

 the first instance, to a list of the species which you think can fairly be 

 trusted to nest, either occasionally or regularly, upon British soil ; 

 and then I might be collecting what information I can, until you have 

 a little less work upon your hands, and sufficient time to turn to your 

 notes and specimens, as I feel sure you will be the largest contributor. 



In case you may not have Mr. Watson's work at hand, I enclose 

 you a tracing of his eighteen districts, by which the range of each 

 species is indicated, e.g. the nightingale's might be given as 



Prov. i2345**89?io 

 Auth. Ro Kx Fr Nn R Hw H T 



with the authority shown in each case by initials. 



It would be very desirable to trace the north' and south limits by 

 counties across Great Britain, if that should be possible ; but I do not 

 know whether the information would be forthcoming. . . . Pray excuse 

 the repetition and prosiness of this letter. I am writing with a 

 miserable headache, only I must not put off any longer. I have no 

 chance of meeting you at Oxford. Yours, 



A. G. M. 



(November ist, 1860.} I am ashamed to think that you should 

 have anticipated me. ... I am as anxious as you are yourself to 

 see the projected Paper under way ; but pray do not hurry me. The 

 statistical table which I have commenced requires a deal of time, if 

 it is to be tolerably complete ; and if I have not yet made much pro- 

 gress, it is because I have had my hands quite full of other matters ; 

 and then I am obliged to knock off, and rest occasionally from not 

 being quite an able-bodied labourer. My health has been very much 

 against work all this year, and so I cannot do nearly what I could 

 wish. 



(December i$th, 1860.} I daresay you have discovered ere this, 

 that, as far as mental activity is concerned, I am unfortunate enough 

 to partake of the nature or habits of the "mudfish " or of the snail; 

 that is, in the summer I am torpid, and it is only the bracing 

 autumn weather (or you will say the late floods) which rouse me 

 again into activity. Pray don't scold me another time for delay 

 and procrastination, want of zeal, and all that. I can assure you 



K 



