t.IXNBA-N" SOCIETY OF LOXDON. 55 



After a stay of a few raoutbs in Khandesli aud Kolaba respec- 

 tively, he was' moved iu 1878 to the Southern Circle of the Bombay 

 Presidency, in which are comprised the splendid high seedling 

 forests of North Kauara, forming as they do an unbroken chain 

 of about 3000 square miles of tropical woodland. 



One can imagine what pleasure and delight arrival m this 

 region must have afforded Mr. Talbot. With his keenness lor big 

 game shouting and love of botany, here were conditions of an ideal 

 character for him, which he did not fail to take advantage ol to 

 the fullest possible extent, especially as he had the good \ovtmie 

 to be left undisturbed in this region for seventeen years, or halt his 

 total pi-riod of service. This was probitbly due to Ins having soon 

 gained the contidenee of his chief, Col. Peyton, the Conservator, 

 who was an intrepid sportsman and keen lover of nature, and he 

 recognised in Mr. Talbot the very man to do full justice to the 

 situation in which he was placed. 



It was while out on shooting expeditions with Col. Peyton and 

 excursions with others, that Mr. Talbot, aided by his trained 

 powers of observation, was able to collect the store of botanical 

 information which he put together in book form first in 1894. 

 This was his first modest attempt at a systematic work on the 

 trees, shrubs, and climbers of the Bombay Presidency, and it was 

 published under the authority of theBombay Government. Several 

 new species were included in this work, as well as numerous 

 others not first noted as found in the Bombay Presidency. _ 



Eight years of further close botanical worli enabled hmi to 

 bring out in 1902 another and much enlarged edition of his first 

 book, which was again published by Government and contained 

 still more trees, shrubs, and climbers new to science and several 

 other species also not known to exist previously in the Presidency. 

 But Mr. Talbot was now reaching senior rank, and it became 

 necessary to transfer him from Kanara to a post of an adminis- 

 trative character. Much to his chagrin accordingly, he was moved 

 in 1903 to assume control of the Northern Forest Circle of the 

 Bombay Presidency. It was while in administrative charge ot 

 this circle that the 'idea of bringing out an illustrated and much 

 enlarged edition of his previous work, 'Forest Flora ot the 

 Bombay Peninsula and Sind,' Pooi.a (1909-11), 2 vols., 4to, took 

 concrete form. AVith the co-operation of his sister, who is a 

 talented artist, and who is responsible for the illustrations m the 

 book which are mostlv from nature, he started on this laborious 

 and ambitious task. They both worked assiduously together on 

 this mwjnam opus for eight years, i.e. till 1910, when Mr. lalbot s 

 enforced retirement from the service owing to age (55 years) was 

 brought about. This work, however, was practically «omp_leted, 

 and it was published by Government at a cost of Ks. ly,000 

 i.e. about £1000. Mr. Talbot was given an honorarium ot 

 Rs. 5000, /. e. £333, for his service and 50 free copies for pre- 

 entation to friends. 



