264 Alexander Goodman More. [1377 



CHAPTER XXXVIII. 



LAST YEARS UNDER ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY. 



[1877-1878.] 



His love of Killarney has already been alluded to, and of 

 late, when in Kerry, he had generally spent some time also 

 with Dr. Battersby, of Lake Caragh. To his friendship 

 with Dr. Battersby is due the explosion of a most absurd 

 (though at the same time perfectly excusable) error that 

 had found its way into Irish ornithology. 



Among the treasures contained in the Natural History 

 Museum in Kildare-street was a specimen of that handsome 

 bird the Blue Thrush (Monticolacyanus) which enjoyed the 

 reputation of having been shot in county Meath. It had 

 been purchased by the Museum from Mr. Richard Glennon, 

 the well-known Dublin bird-stuffer, at whose shop it had 

 been left, freshly killed, with a verbal message from the 

 donor. At a later date, however, some inquiries as to 

 that gentleman's correct name and address resulted in the 

 discovery that his message must have been imperfectly 

 delivered, and his identity could not be traced. The 

 occurrence of the Blue Thrush in Ireland had meanwhile 

 been recorded in the u Zoologist/' and consequently noticed 

 in the standard works, though some incredulity was ex- 

 pressed as to such a species having really straggled, 

 unhelped, to the British Isles. 



In this doubtful status the bird remained for about ten 

 years, till one day Dr. Battersby, going with Mr. More 

 through the Museum, was struck with surprise at seeing a 

 Blue Thrush among the Irish birds. But when, on inquiry, 

 he learned what was known of its antecedents, his surprise 

 gave way to intense amusement. He was himself the 

 gentleman who had left the bird at Mr. Glennon's. Mr. 

 Glennon being out when he called, he had not thought it 

 necessary to give a full history of the specimen : the fact 



