176 Alexander Goodman More. [ises 



CHAPTER XXIV. 



AT WORK IN IRELAND. 



(1865.) 



THE idea of permanently settling in Ireland had now be- 

 come definite with him, and he had made up his mind 

 to try for some Natural History professorship, or other 

 appointment which would enable him to devote himself 

 wholly to the service of science. For years his health had 

 been much in the way of his seeking* such responsibilities, 

 but it was a hopeful symptom that the work at " Cybele 

 Hibernica" suffered little interruption from illness. The 

 publication of the Bird-Distribution, begun in January, 

 was continued and concluded in the other parts of the 

 "Ibis" for the same year. His best ornithological and 

 his best botanical work were thus written simultaneously, 

 in 1865. Naturally, this period presents little of incident. 

 The following passages are extracts from letters to Mr. 

 Newton : 



(February qth.'} I have been working hard all the morning, and I 

 rejoice to say that the Land Birds are now quite finished, except nine 

 species, so that you may reckon on the MS. by the beginning of next 

 week. I shall be very glad indeed t to have the benefit of your revision 

 before the paper goes to press, and while you have leisure. Your criti- 

 cisms are always welcome, and to the point ; so that I am sure they 

 will be very useful. Can you make out anything about the record of the 

 Ptarmigan in Wales ? The only books I have seen it in are Thomp- 

 son's " Birds si Ireland" (you see how everything here ends in a Bull) 

 and Graves' ''British Birds"; but who is the great originator of the 

 tradition or fable I have not been able to discover. I think it is not 

 Pennant. Another bird which stands in need of your helping hand is 

 Anthus spipoletta,* if you are quite satisfied that the species has been 

 made out. It certainly is a remarkable and unexpected fact to turn up 

 so suddenly. I have not seen anything written of Mr. Hancock's on 

 the subject, nor do I know whether the bird is published or not. Of 



* The Water-Pipit, added in 1864 to the British list. 



