xliv PKOCEEDINGS OF THE 



Pigeons, of whicli several numbers have been publisbed, occupied 

 him up to the time of his death. This extreme ardour in the pur- 

 suit of science, and the unremitting attention which he devoted to 

 it, increasing even as his physical povp^ers gave way, were his most 

 striking characteristics. Confining himself to Vertebrated zoology, 

 and especially conversant with the class of Birds, which few men 

 have studied more successfully, his labours have contributed largely 

 to our knowledge of the faunas of Europe and of North America 

 in particular, to the improvement of their systematic arrangement, 

 to the establishment of many well-marked genera, and to the di- 

 stinction and description of a multitude of new or imperfectly- 

 known species. Of his conduct in public life it is not my busi- 

 ness to speak ; but I only echo the general sentiment in saying 

 that in private he was amiable and estimable, a warm friend, and 

 an agreeable companion. 



Martin HeinricJi Karl Liclitenstein, Doctor of Medicine and 

 Philosophy, Member of the Moyal Academy of Sciences at Berlin, 

 Director of the Zoological Museum, and Professor of Zoology in 

 the University of that city, was born at Hambvirg, on the 10th of 

 January, 1780. He devoted himself to the study of medicine, 

 and took his Doctor's Degree at Helmstadt in 1801. In the 

 following year he became tutor to the children of General Janssen, 

 the Dutch Governor of the Cape of Good Hope, and accompanied 

 him, partly in that capacity and partly as his physician, to Southern 

 Africa. Soon after his arrival, he was made Surgeon-Major in the 

 battalion of Hottentot Light Infantry, raised for the Dutch ser- 

 vice, and was appointed in 1804 one of the Commissioners for 

 visiting several then unknown parts of the interior, on missions 

 connected with the outbreak of the war with the native races. In 

 this capacity he was enabled to collect a great amount of informa- 

 tion relative to the geography and natural history of the regions 

 which he visited, and in particidar to gratify that ardent inclina- 

 tion for zoological investigation which had become his ruling 

 passion. After the capture of the Cape by the English, he 

 returned to Holland with his patron, bringing with him large 

 collections and other materials, on which he laboured for several 

 years, and having settled at Berlin in 1810, commenced his 

 academical career in the following year as ordinary Professor of 

 Zoology in the University. The narrative of his African Travels, 

 published under the title of 'Eeisen im SiidHchen Africa,' two 

 vols. 8vo, Berlin, 1810-12, added greatly to the reputation which 

 he had already acquired, and was speedily translated into English 



