1855] Splitters and Lumpers. 77 



extent, " The Letters of Rusticus." There was, however, 

 another " Fern-authority " in London in the person of Mr. 

 Thomas Moore, F.L.S., of Chelsea ; and to him also a large 

 assortment of Tunbridge Wells specimens was conveyed. 

 Both the " pteridologists " were most attentive, and discussed 

 his ferns at considerable length. Indeed he was almost 

 startled at the number of varieties which Mr. Moore a 

 thorough-going " splitter " detected in his set, naming 

 as vars. what, to him, had appeared nothing but stunted 

 specimens ; " and I am sure (he adds) I overlooked many 

 such at Tunbridge Wells/' On the other hand, a letter of 

 introduction to Sir W. Hooker brought him into contact 

 with the opposite " ultra lumping, perhaps best school," 

 to which both Sir William and his son, Dr. Hooker, 

 decidedly adhered. " Evidently/' he writes after a conver- 

 sation with the latter at Kew, on November 16, " it is the 

 result of a wide scope of study to make a man dislike and 

 careless of species critically treated." And in theory he 

 always remained a moderate " lumper," though in practice 

 he delighted in "critical species." At this period also 

 began his friendship with Mr. J. F. Syme (afterwards 

 Boswell). Some entomological evenings too were spent 

 with Mr. Stainton, at Lewisham. Had they only got on 

 the subject of the new moth, Miana expolita, of which Mr. 

 Stainton must now have had some named specimens in his 

 cabinet, the date of that insect's discovery as an Irish 

 species would probably have been anticipated by three 

 years. 



Two more extracts from his London diary may.be given 

 in conclusion. 



" November 20. British Museum Library and Yarrell's 

 Birds at 10 o'clock. Called on Mr. Syme who most 

 liberally set me up in Batrachian Ranunculi. He comes 

 near to my notion that there is but one marine species, i.e. 

 confusus + baudotii + marinus + tripartitus, perhaps. Then, 

 he says, as I do, trichophyllus and peltatus are but forms of 

 aquatilis and pass into it. ... Submerged leaves of tri- 

 partitus are just like those of trichophyllus, but this may 

 arise from fresh v. brackish water." 



" At 8 o'clock repaired to Linnaean Society's Rooms, 



