38 MEMORIAL TRIBUTE 



wiU not be considered sufficient to afford a knowledge 

 of birds, and when the student Avill not only go forth 

 to observe the habits of birds but to procure specimens 

 for careful dissection, thus showing the effect of 

 MacGillivray's teaching and example on a man who, 

 although he knew much of the habits, lives, and 

 exterior of bii'ds, was " no scientist." 



Audubon, on finally departing for America, left his 

 son Victor to finish the work of publication, and he 

 wrote to him as follows : — " You have my journals, 

 all necessary facts, and in yourself sufficient ability to 

 finish the letter-press with the assistance of our worthy 

 friend, John Bechman, as well as MacGillivray." 



From these quotations it is clear that Mac- 

 Gillivray's part in the preparation of the OnnthologicaJ 

 Biographies must have involved much anxious, laborious 

 and constant work, requiring the greatest care and 

 judgment, over a period of eight years, and that work 

 must have added much to his other constantly en- 

 grossing occupations. Yet nothing which came from 

 his pen shows haste ; and everything he did was done 

 with patience, with care and with accuracy. Care, 

 patience, and accuracy were elements in his nature 

 which no circumstances, however pressing, could 

 counteract or overcome. 



His labours in connection with Audubon's work 

 terminated in 1839, when the Synops-is, which was 

 wholly prepared by him, was finished and published. 



MacGillivray, as appears from many passages in his 

 British Birds, appreciated much the warm friendship 



