378 Alexander Goodman More. [1393 



is very interesting to hear of such a plague. I think it must be the 

 small beetle sometimes called the " fern fly." It was Neotinea intacta 

 which I first found at Castle Taylor, on the "hunting course " field, but 

 it is not abundant there, and I fear it is now past flowering. There is 

 more of it about Ballyvaughan, in Clare. And my friend Mr. Levinge 

 (of Knock Drin Castle) has gathered it in Burren last year, and again 

 this year. I will ask him to give me a specimen for you, if you care to 

 have it. This Orchid grows also on the shore of Lough Corrib, close 

 to Cong, I believe in Mayo. But it flowers very early (middle of May), 

 and is quite a small insignificant-looking plant. But it is one of the 

 very best Irish plants, being on the Continent found on the Mediter- 

 ranean, then in Portugal, and I suppose Spain. It is indeed a botanist's 

 marvel. If at any time you should wish me to look at any of your dried 

 specimens I shall be most happy. 



By the spring of 1893 he was again working hard at 

 botany, and the correspondence was resumed. 



April joth, 1893. 



DEAR MRS. JOYCE, I was very glad to see your handwriting again. 

 And indeed I have not forgotten your interesting discovery of Vicia 

 orobus in Galway. . . . When you mention Ophrys muscifera as grow- 

 ing in the same locality, it is evident that you have a good chance of 

 finding other rare species. Especially please look out for the Neo- 

 tinea. It should now be in flower, a short upright Orchis, very small, 

 with greenish flowers, sometimes a little tinged with purple. And quite 

 unlike any other Orchis, except Habenaria albida, which flowers much 

 later. As you know the " Hunting Course " field at Castle Taylor, you 

 will recognize the right kind of surface. And I think you will have to 

 look closely, as Neotinea is only 6 to 8 inches high. Please, at same 

 time, notice whether Gentiana verna grows at Cregmore. I am very 

 anxious to know its eastern limit. It is recorded as found near 

 Athenry, that is I suppose south or west from Athenry. For the 

 geological strata change just at Athenry. And I shall like to 

 hear whether the Gentian grows anywhere to the eastward, or off the 

 pure Carboniferous Limestone (such as the Hunting-Course). Again, 

 does Dryas octopetala or Geranium sanguineum grow in your locality ? 

 with the Ophrys and Rosa spinosissima ? Rhamnus ? I should be 

 very much obliged if you would kindly take the trouble to find out any 

 new localities for Gentiana verna. It extends north to Lough Carra in 

 Mayo, and right away to the west of Clare, how far east we do not 

 know. Viola stagnina you once sent me from a turlough is a very rare 

 plant, and I should like to know the locality. . . . The Punchestown 

 Orchis is O. morio, which I do not remember finding at Castle Taylor. 

 It grows near Roundstone in Connemara, and in several places near 

 Dublin, and in Kildare. It is one of the less common Irish orchids. I 

 hope that you will continue to send me anything rare. It is always a 

 pleasure to see specimens freshly gathered from the country, and no 



