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THE LATE .TA^rKS RACKHOURK. 355
Lychnis alpina L., and Aquilegia were gathered in Cumberland. In
18fi9, Trirhomaiips radicans Sw. was gathered in Wales, and Ajnrin
pyramidalis L., Putentillft frnticosa L., and Drijas octopetala L., "all
in the Lake District." "Wales was again visited in 1871, when
"two fresh patches of Trichonutnes in ... . station with T. Westcoiube
and Theod ire " were found. Beyond 1871 this interesting
record does not go. but no one can glance through the brief resume
here given without realizing the extent and importance of the work
accomplished for British field botany by the two Backhouses.
In the numerous papers he wrote for the 'Phytologist'* and
'Botanical Gazette,' vol. iii. p. 43, will be found graphic and
interesting details concerning many of the above noteworthy
discoveries.
His knowledge of Scotland was so profound that on one occasion,
when a prominent Scottish botanist was asked by a fellow-student
whom he considered to have the best knowledge of Scotland
botanically, he unhesitatingly named Mr. Backhouse. In North
Wales, too, so careful was his search for the Killarney Fern that
over many miles of country his knowledge extended to every stream.
Mr. Backhouse's chief reputation as a botanist, however, will
rest on his well-known ' Monograph of the British Hieracia,' published
in 1856.
to this critical
Until that time but little attention had been given
genus. Those only who have ma le a special study
of such a genus can appreciate the difficulty of collecting, separating,
and reducing to systematic order a mass of material of which so
little was previously known. This book is a monument to the
honest, accurate, and painstaking work of its author, no less than
to his keen powers of perception, and ability to describe what he
saw. There are here described no less than twelve new species, all
of which have borne the test of severe criticism, and are now
accorded a permanent place in our Flora.
Although able to take long walks in the mountains, Mr. Backhouse
was always more or less of an invalid. For this reason
he visited little, and was personally known to but few botanists,
though greatly beloved by all who had the privilege of his
acquaintance. He showed at all times the keenest possible interest
in his favourite studies, on which he conversed with great vivacity.
Extreme accuracy characterized all his work, and the writer will
never forget the minute directions he was able to give to insure the
finding of some of his favourite plants, many of which he was in
the habit of visiting year after year to a'^sure himself that they had
not fallen a prey to the greedy collector.
Botany, however, was by no means Mr. Backhouse's sole
interest. The beautiful private museum attached to his house
testifies to his varied tastes and knowledge. The fine geological
collections from tiie caves he discovered and explored year after
year in Upper Teesdale, togetlier with the antiquarian objects of
interest from all parts of the world, will well repay a visit.
* 'Phytologist,' IHin, pp. 422 nnfl r,70 ; 1H17. p. 1011; IHl'l, pp. Ill, Hr^,
544; 1850, p. 76H ; 18.52, p. GOtJ ; 1H5H, p. 8U4; IHOI, p. 606 ; 1BG2, p. 30.
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