I89o] Further Miscellaneous Letters. 361 



CHAPTER XLIX. 



FURTHER MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS. 

 [1890-1891.] 



IN April, 1889, he settled in the house (74, Leinster-road) 

 in which his remaining years were passed, and which soon 

 became known to all naturalists who lived in or visited 

 Dublin. He himself took special pains to find out the 

 younger men who had any taste for natural history, to 

 assure them of his willingness to assist. Beginners who 

 visited him for help in determination of specimens, &c., 

 were often astonished at the overflowing interest shown in 

 their trivial and inexperienced researches. His vivacious 

 questions interspersed with the " Most interesting !" or 

 " Oh, be very cautious !" with which his disciples so soon 

 became familiar seemed to place insignificant subjects 

 on quite a new footing. " Now, I think, you have materials 

 for a nice paper ; why not do it at once ?" was sometimes 

 the sequel. u Oh, don't hesitate ! Here are pens and paper ! 



We can revise it afterwards. Now, about Ranunculus ; 



where do you find it ? Most interesting : put that down 



exactly as you have said it. And ? Roadsides ! 



Say * introduced.' We have to be strictly honest. And 



in clover-crops ? But do you find it every year ? More 

 interesting still ; write it down * a colonist.' You are 



sure is native ? Ah, let us be careful ! I think the 



'dagger' should be used. And ? Can you remember 



the exact shape of the stipules ? Perhaps it might turn 



out to be . Better not mention it yet. Don't be in 



any hurry." And so on till the beginner has " written" his 

 first botanical paper, which usually goes to the " Journal 

 of Botany" direct from Leinster-road, and to " save time" 

 is revised in proof there likewise. 



His enthusiasm as an instigator is probably the more 

 remarkable in being combined with so extensive an ex- 



