The Annals 



of 



Scottish Natural History 



No. 51] 1904 [JULY 



WILLIAM TAIT, LL.D. 



OBITUARY. 



ON 1 7th May 1904, at the age of 70, died one who was 

 a true lover of nature, and did much, by personal investiga- 

 tion and by assistance to others, to extend our knowledge 

 of the natural history of Aberdeenshire, although in ways 

 known to few save personal friends, who often experienced 

 his readme.' s to help with information and labour. During 

 several years he gave especial attention to the Lepidoptera 

 around his home between Kintore and Inverurie, where he 

 detected a number of interesting insects. He also took up 

 the Coleoptera for a time, but found his eyes suffer from 

 the minute examination of the smaller species. In recent 

 years he turned to Botany, and was much interested in the 

 investigation of the flora of Kintore, in which parish he 

 lived. His time was much occupied with the management 

 of a large business in making paper ; but he took an active 

 share in various sides of public work, and was during several 

 years Chairman of the Education Committee of the Aberdeen 

 County Council, assisting greatly in the development and 

 extension of educational facilities in the county. In 1895 

 the University of Aberdeen conferred on him the degree of 

 LL.D. in recognition of his public services. For some time 

 before his death he had not felt able for severe physical 

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