i 4 4 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



was the Royal Natural History, published in six v umes. Of 

 this most admirable work he was editor, and he himself wrote 

 very nearly half. 



Much of his work at the British Museum of Natural History 

 during the last twenty years had this same end in view. He 

 was in charge of the public galleries devoted to the exhibition 

 of mammals, including the Cetacea, and the reptiles : and the fine 

 collection of domesticated animals also grew up under his foster- 

 ing care. He was also in charge of the Anthropological Gallery. 

 As was but natural, he also wrote the guides to the collections 

 under his charge, and since these have sold in their thousands 

 they must have done not a little to foster the study of natural 

 history in all classes of the community. 



To chance acquaintances he probably seemed almost taciturn ; 

 but those who were privileged to enjoy his friendship regarded 

 him with real affection. The writer of these lines, for nearly 

 twenty years, was among those thus favoured. Often we worked 

 together, and always harmoniously. 



He possessed a keen sense of humour. And he needed it. 

 For some of the requests he received through the post, in his 

 official capacity at the British Museum, were astonishing in their 

 impudence. As for example when he was requested to furnish 

 full details of the seasonal coloration of Arctic animals for the 

 benefit of a correspondent who had been asked to write an 

 article on this theme by the editor of a popular magazine, but 

 who, as he confessed, " knew absolutely nothing about the 

 subject." In return the writer promised faithfully to send proofs 

 for correction to the Museum, and to make no mention of the 

 source from whence he had obtained his information, as he 

 knew that Fellows of the Royal Society did not like mention ol 

 this sort ! As no answer was vouchsafed to this remarkable 

 request an indignant letter followed, requesting an answer, with 

 the necessary data, by return of post ! 



Holidays bored him. His only recreation was gardening, 

 perhaps because this entailed zvork. And for a like reason, one 

 may surmise, he served for many years, and up to the time of 

 his death, as a Justice of the Peace. 



Of him, indeed, it may be said that he lived laborious days, 

 and he died in harness; for only a few hours before the end he 

 was dictating an article to his brother, being too weak to write 

 himself. 



