i860] Mutual Mystification. 131 



authorities of all very common species might be omitted altogether ; 

 still this would make the work a little unsymmetrical. . . . 



I hope you are working at the new edition of Yarrell. Do tell me 

 how that is getting on. There must be great room for additions and 

 corrections. You have quite mystified me as to the "Little Laughing 

 Goose" (or "Smiling" goose are we to call him?), the Anser finmar- 

 chichus.* Do you consider the bird a true species or a sub-species 

 (i.e. a permanent variety) ? I daresay it was my own obtuseness in 

 reading the article, but I did not feel sure which is your view. I see 

 you have not included the Pink-footed Goose among the British nesting 

 birds. Yet M'Gillivray distinctly states it breeds in Harris and Uist. 

 Is some mistake suspected ? 



May I offer to a priest of Ibis some venerable relics of which I have 

 just become possessed. The bones are warranted genuine, and might 

 work marvels in proper hands. 



Lot i. Sternum of Pastor roseus.f 



Lot 2. Sternum of male Peregrine (a plague on the wretch who shot 

 him). 



Lot 3. Sternum of female Peregrine (I can't bear the sight of it). 



Lot 4. Sternum of Hen Harrier, female. 



Lot 5. Sternum of Northern Diver and Little Auk. Skull of Snowy 

 Owl, perfect, but somewhat encrusted with lime. 



All and any of them are perfectly at your service if you care to 

 accept of them. I regret the cross-bones in front of some of the sterna 

 are gone or imperfect. Yours very sincerely, 



A. G. MORE. 



The " main business " of this letter was the Bird- 

 Formula, which was enclosed for Mr. Newton's approval. 

 Mr. Newton, in reply, chaffed him unmercifully on this 

 device. It "reminded him of the Okenian mysticism," 

 was " as difficult of comprehension as the language of 

 Mineralogy." " You say, * if the names were abbreviated 

 it would make the reading too harsh' but, excuse me, 

 have you not already abbreviated your formula until it 

 approaches the Abracadabra of Magic. This, of course, is 

 only for ourselves, but how is an uneducated person like 

 me to understand 



,,4*6,, 

 Nn O Rt ? 



Picture to yourself the frame of mind in which will 



sit down to fill up a sheet with such cabalistic symbols, 



Alluding to an article by Mr. Newton in the "Ibis " for October, 1860. 

 t Rose-coloured Starling. 



K2 



