20 MEMOIR OF DR. EAR VEY. 



an instance of the impossibility of confining generic characters 

 to the shells, as its animal is unlike that of any other sea-shell 

 I have so far examined, and yet it approaches in its external 

 character more to a Lymnea than to anything else. However, 

 there are differences abundantly sufficient to keep it distinct. 



Jungermannia will every day be unfolding her fruit. When 

 rambling, if thou meet with any such, I shall be glad of them. 



Hitherto William had pursued his scientific researches with 

 little assistance or encouragement, beyond what books and the 

 sympathy of his cousin afforded. But now an intercourse was 

 about to spring up which not only added largely to the happi- 

 ness of his life, but strongly influenced his future career, and 

 confirmed the choice of cryptogamic botany as his peculiar 

 study. 



In the summer of this year he and Mr. Fennell visited 

 Killarney, and there found the HooJceria leete-virens, a small 

 moss, heretofore unnoticed as an Irish plant. By means of this 

 discovery he introduced himself to Sir William, then Dr. 

 Hooker, Curator of the Botanic Gardens at Glasgow, and thus 

 began an acquaintance which quickly ripened into a warm and 

 lasting friendship. This distinguished man soon perceived the 

 earnest zeal and carefully minute investigation of the young 

 botanist. He generously afforded him every assistance and 

 advantage possible for his advancement in the science, and thus 

 won his ardent gratitude. 



The specimens were forwarded to Glasgow with the following 

 letter : — 



To W. J. Hooker, LLB. 

 Respected Friend, 



Having discovered two new habitats for the beautiful 

 Hookeria Isete-virens, which I am anxious to have inserted in the 

 forthcoming volume of the " British Flora," I take the liberty 

 of enclosing specimens, trusting to thy goodness to excuse the 

 want of a personal introduction. As the plant occurs in plenty 

 in one of the situations attached, I think it highly probable it 

 may be found in many other places, and very extraordinary 

 that it was overlooked by J. T. Mackay, as it is found within 

 three or four yards of his habitat for the Trichomanes. I have 

 had no opportunity of comparing Cork specimens, but my 



