112 OKIGIXAL jMEMBERS. 



Edward Clough Newcome (an original member of the 

 B. O. U.) on his expeditions. This gentleman, as is well 

 known, endeavonred to resuscitate the favourite sport of 

 the jMiddle Ages, and for some years carried on the pursuit 

 with considerable success in the wilds of South-west Norfolk. 

 When not specially engaged at Cambridge, Newton was 

 by no means neglectful of the Royal, the Zoological, and 

 other Societies, and was often a conspicuous figure at the 

 meetings of the British Association. He also took much 

 interest in the 'Zoological Record.^ He was chairman of 

 the Close-Time Committee and of the British Association 

 Committee on the Migration of Birds. Elected F.R.S. in 

 1870, he was a Yiee-President both of the Royal and Zoolo- 

 gical Societies. Somewhat late in life (1901) he was awarded 

 one of the Royal Medals, and Lord Lister took occasion to 

 remark that the progress of Ornithology in this country was 

 due mainly to his " critical, suggestive, and stimulating 

 influence." In the same year he was also awarded the gold 

 medal of the Linneau Society. 



As an ornithological writer Newton obtained a world-wide 

 reputation. Amongst his numerous publications we might 

 perhaps select the first two volumes of the fourth edition of 

 ' Yarrell,' the ' Dictionary of Birds,' and the ' Ootheca 

 Wolleyana ' for special notice. There can be no doubt that 

 a great impulse Avas given to the study of British Birds by 

 his preparation of the fourth edition of ' Yarrell,' which, so 

 far as he went, was thoroughly brought up to date. But 

 here comes in one of Prof. Newton's peculiarities. The first 

 volume appeared in 1874, and the second was not completed 

 until 1882 — rather a long time for the subscribers to remain 

 in suspense. The fact is that the Editor was always content 

 to wait for fresh matter rather than turn out an imperfect 

 piece of work, and so the fourth edition of ' Yarrell ' was 

 finished — and well finished — by another hand. The ' Dic- 

 tionary of Birds ' stands on a somewhat different footing. 

 We have already seen that, when the subject of Birds had 

 to be dealt with, editors and publishers always turned to 

 Alfred Newton ; and thus it came to pass that during the 



