Obitnnry. 351 



the Little Ouse, on the borders of Norfolk and Suffolk. 

 lie was just iu time to find some of the Harriers breeding, 

 and notably Montagu's Harrier, which then nested 

 regularly in Feltvvell Fen in company with the Short-eared 

 Owl. 



The year 1848 was in many ways a memorable one. It 

 was in that year that Simpson first made the acquaintance 

 of Alfred Newton, who had just come up as an under- 

 graduate to Magdalene College, Cambridge. The similarity 

 of their tastes soon made them firm friends, though Newton 

 did not then accompany Simpson in any of his excur- 

 sions. His principal comrade at this time was a brother 

 Johnian named James E. Law, who had shared in his birds'- 

 nestiug experiences at Uppingham, and who ultimately 

 married his eldest sister. When the May term was over, 

 Simpson and LaAv made a short tour in Nortliumberland, 

 the programme including a complete day at the Fame 

 Islands on the 15th of June. Sandwich Terns were particu- 

 larly plentiful in those days, but the eggs of the few Roseate 

 Terns visible were only doubtfully identified. The same 

 party had a delightful day on Cheviot a little later, when 

 they found that the j\Iei'lin and Dunlin had already hatched 

 off; but a complete clutch of the Golden Plover was 

 secured from the flat and hassocky summit of the mountain. 

 On the rth July following, Simpson, who was then visiting 

 his relations in Cumberland, secured a nest of the Dotterel, 

 with its complement of three eggs, on the summit of 

 llobinson Fell near Buttermere. 



Simpson took his B.A. degree in January 1850, and 

 forthwith went to reside in London, where he was called to 

 the Bar iu 1853. Those years were not prolific in ornitho- 

 logical pursuits, although during a short fishing-trip to the 

 north-west of Ireland, in May 1853, he and his old College 

 chum James Law had the good fortune to secure nests of 

 the Sea-Eagle and Peregrine Falcon from the cliffs of Horn 

 Head in Donegal. 



He again took up ornithology seriously in the spring 

 of 1855, and this time at the instance of Alfred Newton, 



