1887] List of Irish Birds. 329 



with his own eyes the unprecedented spectacle of Red- 

 starts nesting in Ireland, and was shown both the parent 

 Redstarts, the nest, and the recently-flown family of young 

 birds. It was something not to be forgotten. 



The Redstart expedition was on June 27th. The dis- 

 covery was just too late for publication in the List of Irish 

 Birds, which on the same day came from the printer. 



June 28th, 1885. 



MY DEAR NEWTON, I am sending" you a copy of my new List of 

 Irish Birds. It is only very short and condensed, but I am gathering 

 materials for something- more extended presently. A vertebrate fauna 

 of Ireland probably. You will see that I have felt obliged to turn out a 

 good many birds that have been admitted, as I think, too hastily. . . . 

 I should be grateful if you will kindly give me your opinion of the list, 

 and any suggestion towards its improvement if it reaches a second 

 edition. There, is a Labrador Duck in Dublin, which I am very anxious 

 to purchase for the Museum. What would you say would be a fair 

 price to offer ? 



He was just setting out for his summer holiday ; the 

 good opinions which his List of Irish Birds was eliciting 

 on every side gave him great satisfaction, and he was full 

 of new projects. Two days before starting he wrote to 

 Mr. Barrington : 



Thursday Evening. 



DEAR B., I am glad to hear that you approve of B. L. Newton 

 writes of it approvingly ; and Dr. Giinther has asked for two extra copies 

 for the department in the B. M. (British Museum), which looks well. 

 I saw the Redstarts: two parents, etc. ; and wrote to "Field" and 

 "Zool." about 'em. If you go to see Anton, do not forget to ask 

 about Miss Massy, who discovered them, and who leads the life of an 

 ornithophilous bachelor, close to the Waterfall. 



I have for some time projected a Catalogue of Irish plants, as you 

 know. But perhaps I am better at planning than carrying out. Stilt, 

 with every allowance for delay, I mean to print the Cat. before 

 winter. Soon, I hope. One difficulty is whether to print in two columns, 

 like London Cat., . . . or to give the columns of Provinces. . . . 

 Please say which you incline to, and write to me at Ellesmere Lodge, 

 Malvern, where I hope to be early next week. I shall be in Bangor, I 

 hope, next Sunday. Yours, 



A. G. M. 



