Obituary. 167 



the peace of ornithological nomenclature. In his later writ- 

 ings Blyth adhered loyally to the " rules of nomenclature/' 



It will be a matter of regret if the works of so diligent a 

 writer should be allowed to remain diffused, as they are, through 

 so many zoological journals — the more so as the works of 

 our most laborious compilers omit all references to original 

 descriptions, nor do they furnish any clew to where they are 

 to be found, beyond the name of a species and its author. Is 

 there not here a field of activity for some member of our 

 Union ? who, by making even an index to the generic and 

 specific names scattered through Blyth's works, would not 

 only honour a gi'eat ornithologist's memory, but also, by 

 saving hours of too often fruitless search to his fellow-workers, 

 confer a great boon upon ornithological science generally. 



Jules Pierre Verreaux was bom on the 24tli of August, 

 1807. At the early age of twelve years he accompanied his 

 uncle, the well-known '' naturaliste-voyageur," Delalande, to 

 the Cape of Good Hope, where he remained for two years, 

 assisting in preparing the collections which were ultimately 

 sent to the Paris Museum. On his return to Paris he studied 

 in the laboratories of that institution under G. Cuvier and 

 Isidore St.-Hilaire. After the death of his uncle, Jules Ver- 

 reaux started alone for the Cape of Good Hope in 1825, where, 

 partly in company with Sir Andrew Smith, he worked for 

 five years with such success that he had to send for his 

 brother Edouard to help him to arrange and pack his large 

 collections, and take charge of them to Paris, where, on their 

 arrival, they were arranged for exhibition in the galleries of 

 the Baron B. Delessert. 



In 1832 Jules Verreaux again summoned his brother to 

 join him, and till 1837 they travelled together, making expe- 

 ditions to the Philippine Islands and Cochin-China. In 1838, 

 having amassed large collections, the brothers shipped their 

 treasures on board the trading-vessel ' Lucullus,' they them- 

 selves embarking in another ship bound for France. Most 

 unfortunately the * Lucullus' was totally lost; and the labours 

 of several years, uninsured, perished with her. Undaunted 



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