118 



ORIGINAL MEMBERS. 



lost sight of the bird, aiid presently Avalked on straight to 

 the spot, "where, at once, he shewed the nest with eggs. 

 He was the best field-naturalist the writer ever knew, as 

 regards the actions and movements of any bird. It seemed 

 to be with him a sort o£ instinct. 



Newton proceeded in due course to Magdalene College, 

 Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1857, all the while 

 extending his knowledge, especially of the inhabitants of 

 the marshes accessible from Cambridge. The next year he 

 visited the paternal estates in the West Indies, and Avas in 

 the island of St. Croix from March 4tli to September 28th, 

 1858. The results of this visit are recorded in a series of 

 four admirable papers in 'The Ibis' (vol. i. 1859), written 

 in conjunction with his brother, Prof. A. Newton, papers 

 which bespeak the true naturalist in their every line, and 

 Avhich Ave can only wish were followed by Avriters who seem 

 to think nothing further is needed than a diagnosis of the 

 species and its dimensions. 



In 1859 NeAvton entered the Colonial Service, being 

 appointed Assistant Colonial Secretary of Mauritius. The 

 avifauna of the Mascarene Islands Avas then scarcely known 

 in Europe, and had remained neglected since the days of 

 Buflbn. Keen anticipations Avere entertained by his brother 

 naturalists that Edward Newton, if he might not resuscitate 

 the Dodo, Avould at least throw some light on its history, 

 and they Avere not disappointed. His official career was as 

 follows: — Auditor -General of Mauritius 1863; Colonial 

 Secretary of Mauritius 1868-77; Lieut. -Governor and 

 Colonial Secretary of Jamaica 1877-83. He several times 

 administered the Government both of Mauritius and Jamaica. 

 He was made C.M.G. in 1875, and K.C.M.G. in 1887. In 

 1869 he married Mary Louisa Cranstoun, daughter of W. W. 

 R. Kerr, Esq., Treasurer of Mauritius: she died in 1870. 



During his long residence in Mauritius NcAvton made 

 several distant expeditions. His first was to Round Island, 

 of which he gave an interesting account in ' The Ibis ' 

 (1861, p. 180). In Sept. 1861 he Avas sent on an official 

 visit to Kino; Radama of Madagascar to congratulate him on 



