1895] The End. 397 



CHAPTER LV. 



THE END. 



[1895-] 



A VERY little work or writing now fatigued him ; and, as 

 if he had a presentiment that he should not see "The 

 Birds of Ireland" finished, he pressed his friend Mr. Ussher 

 to write a few specimen chapters at once for him to read 

 in manuscript. It was characteristic of him that he asked 

 in the first instance for sketches of two Birds specially 

 associated in Ireland with the cliffs and islands of the 

 West Coast. His letter returning these manuscript articles 

 is the last which he wrote in connexion with the projected 

 ornithological work : 



January i$th, 1895. 



DEAR USSHER, I now return, with many thanks, your two sketches 

 of Chough and Common Gull ; and I have only to repeat what I said 

 before, that I think they will do very well, and will require very little 

 addition or correction. I should much like to see you take up six or 

 eight other species, and I believe the best way will be to write the 

 article freely from memory, and one or two chief authorities, and then 

 afterwards fill in the few necessary details which may have been 

 omitted. The Chough article is as complete and perfect as one can 

 wish. 



If you could only place, ready on your table, just the materials for 

 six or eight birds, and take up one or two each evening, you will be 

 surprised how quickly the MS. will accumulate. Only do not allow 

 yourself to think it a hard task, for indeed you write easily and fluently 

 enough. 



The " casts " of Chough and Peregrine I should send to Dresser. 

 Yours very sincerely, 



A. G. MORE. 



The severe wintriness of February kept him much indoors, 

 and he jokingly compared himself to a cage-finch showing 

 traces of its captivity. " I am afraid I should hardly pass 

 muster for a bona fide unassisted migrant," he said, not 

 long before his last illness. 



