xx11 proceedings of the 



22nd February, 1887. 

 Mr. R. Turner, Vice-President, in the Chair. 



The Chairman referred to the loss which the Society had 

 sustained in the death of Mr. Robert Gray, F.R.S.E., one of 

 the Honorary Members. He moved, and it was unanimously 

 resolved, that a memorial notice of Mr. Gray should be recorded 

 in the minutes, and an excerpt therefrom transmitted to the 

 family of the deceased, with an expression of the sympathy of 

 the Members of the Society with them in their bereavement. 



IN MEMORIAM—RoimKT Gray, F.R.S.E. 



Robert Gray was a native of Dunbar, Haddingtonshire. 

 When a young man, he entered the service of the City of 

 Glasgow Bank, where his marked business capacity was soon 

 recognised. He received the appointment of Inspector of 

 Branches, which he held for a number of years, and after- 

 wards acted as Agent in the West-end Branch of the Bank in 

 Glasgow. About twelve years ago he was appointed Superin- 

 tendent of Branches of the Bank of Scotland, and since that 

 time he resided in Edinburgh. A few years ago he was pro- 

 moted to the office of Cashier of the Bank of Scotland, which 

 he continued to hold until the time of his death. He died on 

 18th inst., at the age of 62. 



Although so closely and so successfully devoted to business, 

 Mr. Gray was a keen observer of Nature. His favourite study 

 — ornithology — was pursued with unflagging earnestness ; and 

 during the period when he acted as Inspector of Branches of 

 the City of Glasgow Bank, frequent visits to the West Coast 

 of Scotland, where the City Bank was well represented, afforded 

 him very favourable opportunities for acquiring much original 

 information regarding the distribution of the birds of the 

 hores and waters. His power of observation was remarkable, 

 and nothing that he noticed seemed to be forgotten. His 

 enthusiastic devotion to Natural History, and unusual abilities 

 as an accurate observer, soon marked him out as a leading 

 ornithologist. This reputation was further established on the 

 publication, in 1871, of his Birds of the West of Scottand, a 

 standard work which has long been out of print. At the time 

 of his decease, he was, along with Mr. William Evans, engaged 

 in the preparation of a companion work on the Birds of the 

 East of Scotland. 



Mr. Gray's connection with the Natural History Society of 

 Glasgow dates from its commencement. He was present at 

 the meeting held on 2nd July, 1851, at which the formation of 

 the Society was agreed upon. From 1854 to 1856 he acted as 

 Treasurer; and in September, 1858, he was appointed to the 

 office of Secretary, which he continued to hold until April, 1871, 



