364 Alexander Goodman More. [i890 



handwriting- is not always very easy to decipher. This means a great 

 expense and trouble to a printer. Once more let me urge tall k's. 

 Your writing is just forming, and you will have much to do with 

 printers. Try and earn their blessing, instead of what Sir R. Gallwey 

 calls their third barrel. No doubt, you have met with this joke of 

 his? 



The years 1890-91, were somewhat unusually rich in 

 occurrences of zoological interest, adding no fewerthan nine 

 new Birds, as well as a Whale, to the Irish List, and yield- 

 ing many rarities besides. He contributed several notes 

 to the " Zoologist/' and zoological topics predominate in 

 his letters. " How delightful for you to be able to watch 

 the Crossbills at their nests. You are indeed more sparing 

 than most collectors would be, in not helping yourself to 

 one of the three nests ; and I am sure you will have some 

 interesting notes for publication. I wish you could help to 

 settle the question about which is the ultimate colour of 

 the male bird," he writes to Mr. Ussher (March 3ist 1890), 

 with wishes of " every success in this spring's egg-cam- 

 paign, and in our projected work." The " projected work " 

 was "The Birds of Ireland," on which Mr. Ussher and he 

 were now embarked, with Mr. Barrington and Mr. Warren 

 as partners, and which was henceforth, with the " Cybele 

 Hibernica," a subject of primary interest to him. Its exe- 

 cution, however, was chiefly left to Mr. Ussher. A few 

 more of his letters, in chronological order, are quoted 

 below. 



May 2oth, 1890. 



DEAR BARRETT-HAMILTON, I ought to have answered your last 

 letter long ago. With regard to your paper on the Rats, the usual 

 course would be to send it when written to the Secretary of the R. I. 

 Academy, who I think would be willing to accept. If you like to send 

 it to me, I shall be most happy to place it in the hands of Dr. Wright, 

 the secretary. But, at the same time, you should consider whether you 

 can get some plates to illustrate the paper, which I think would be a 

 matter of some consequence. What I should like to see would be 

 coloured figures of Mus hibernicus and M. rattus, if not also of 

 M. decumanus and alexandrinus for comparison ; and I much fear that 

 the R. I. Academy would not allow any figures. Also, the paper would 

 be much more generally read, and thus more likely to elicit information, 

 if published in the " Zoologist." And it is well worth while for you to 

 ask Mr. Harting whether he would give you a plate or two in the 

 " Zoologist." .... As you and Clarke have taken so much time and 



