130 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



In 1866 he was appointed Professor of Zoology and 

 Comparative Anatomy in the University of Cambridge (a 

 post which he held to his death), and he was a Fellow of 

 Magdalene College. He was editor of the second series of 

 " The Ibis " ; was chairman, for twenty years, of the British 

 Association Committee on the Migration of Birds ; and 

 had filled the important offices of Vice-President of the 

 Royal and Zoological Societies. In recognition of his services 

 to science he received one of the Royal Medals of the 

 Royal Society, and the Gold Medal of the Linnean Society. 



No other British naturalist has ever done so much to 

 foster the study of his favourite science, ornithology, as 

 Alfred Newton. The position he held for so many years 

 in his University afforded him great opportunities, and these, 

 coupled with his singularly attractive and inspiring person- 

 ality, made him the central figure and guiding spirit of 

 a large and enthusiastic band of bird-men. The death of 

 such a man is an irreparable loss to natural science, and 

 creates a void in a host of friendships that will never be 

 filled. 



OBITUARY. 



On 5th June died Alexander Somerville, B.Sc., one of 

 the most keenly interested students of the natural history 

 of Scotland, especially of its vascular plants, as the pages 

 of this journal have frequently testified. His constant 

 readiness to place his knowledge and help at the service 

 of others, and his kindly nature, were such as to make his 

 death a grief to his numerous friends. We hope to give a 

 sketch of his services to Scottish botany in our next issue. 



REPORT ON SCOTTISH ORNITHOLOGY 



FOR 1906. 



By JOHN PATERSON. 



IN the annals of Scottish ornithology, the year 1906 is 

 somewhat memorable for various reasons. Like its pre- 

 decessor it owes some of its ornithological distinction to the 



