254 Alexander Goodman More. [1875 



monster), and " Architeuthis dux" (to which species he 

 referred the Bofin animal) were made the subjects of articles 

 which he contributed to the " Zoologist " this summer. 



His old wish to visit Bofin was certainly revived by 

 these occurrences. The Royal Irish Academy had voted 

 him a grant towards the examination of the Flora of the 

 West, and seeing that Inish-bofin had recently yielded a 

 fine botanical discovery in Helianthemum guttatum, he 

 decided on that island as his field for 1875. 



The earlier weeks of his holiday, however, were spent 

 with his sister in the Engadine ; and perhaps none of his 

 visits to Switzerland was more thoroughly enjoyed than 

 this, which proved to be the last. At Pontresina he 

 answered a letter received from Mr. R. M. Barrington, 

 about the intended Bofin expedition. 



PONTRESINA, ENGADINE, July 77. 



DEAR BARRINGTON, I was very glad to receive your letter, and 

 there is no one whom I would sooner join in an expedition to Bofin 

 than yourself. I have promised D. Moore, and am in a manner 

 pledged to the R.I.A. to do something with their grant, so that I have 

 taken only a one month's ticket for Switzerland, and must be back in 

 London on the 5th of August. Thence I propose to go on, as fast as I 

 can, straight to Bofin Island, where I have no doubt that we may 

 spend a pleasant and interesting ten days. ... I shall be very glad, 

 indeed, to reckon upon your welcome company, in case you should not 

 come to Swiss-land. If the weather should permit I should try to visit 

 Shark and Clare Islands, and go back via Westport. I scarcely think 

 I shall sleep more than one night in Dublin, but will let you know in 

 good time. I fancy about 7th August will be the date. 



I do so wish that you were here to share with me all the pleasure of 

 the continual new finds of all sorts of glorious plants. We trample 

 under foot such a lot of alpines as would half stock the Botanic Garden. 

 Every day turns up so many new species that my stock of drying paper 

 is quite filled already, though we have not ascended any high peaks as 

 yet. The best ground we have seen was on the top of the Albula Pass, 

 near the " Devil's Valley" (7000 feet). Plenty of Primulas, Soldanella, 

 Gentians, Androsace, &c. The air is pleasantly cool and fresh, when 

 the sun shines, but we have met with a great deal of rain and cloud, so 

 that at present it requires warm winter clothing. If you do come, this 

 would be the very place for you. Just under high mountains of the 

 Bernina group, glacier close by, and a capital place for you to qualify 

 for the Alpine Club. 



