170 ORIGINAL MEMBERS. 



and where it must always form an object of uo common 

 interest to naturalists^ particularly to those engaged in the 

 special study of the local variation of species, as well as 

 to those who, through Wolley's generosity, or his annual 

 sales'^, have become possessed of duplicates of his eggs, 

 many of which are thereby thoroughly identified. It Avas, 

 and always will be, a matter of regret that his active mode 

 of life and his premature death prevented his giving to the 

 world the connected account of his discoveries, which he had 

 meditated. But the copious notes which he was so careful 

 to make on almost every occasion enabled their subsequent 

 possessor to remedy this deficiency in some degree, in the 

 Catalogue which he published later. Wolley had, however, 

 already made known many valuable results of his experience, 

 which will be found chiefly in the pages of ' The Zoologist,' 

 and in the last edition of his friend Mr. Hewitson's admirable 

 work on Oology. 



To describe John Wolley^s character at any length is not 

 the intention of the writer. He has attempted, without the 

 desire of unduly exalting the value of Natural Science, to 

 give in outline the chief events of a life which, if the study 

 of God's creatures deserves any encouragement, cannot be 

 said to have been uselessly spent, and, if unsAverving devotion 

 to the cause of Truth merits any praise, must be declared to 

 have been honourably passed. The facts here narrated are 

 left to speak for themselves ; on them must Wolley's repu- 

 tation rest. It would add little to them to state that in the 

 various capacities of relative, friend, and companion, there 

 was little wanting in him, for such encomiums are too often 

 applied without due cause. His good qualities are treasured 

 in the recollection of those who knew him, and especially of 



* The amount realized at these .sales has been greatly exaggerated 

 by rumour, especially on the Continent. The writer, ou best possible 

 authority, states that the gross receipts of the seven sales, which took 

 place between 1853 and 1859 inclusive, did not exceed £940. From this 

 must be deducted all expenses, the amount of which is not easily com- 

 puted ; but some idea of their extent may be gathered from the fact that, 

 in one season alone, collecting the eggs of a single species cost Wolley 

 nearly £90. 



