538 Obituary. [Ibis, 



XXNIU.— Obituary. 



Robert George Wardlaw-Ramsay. (PL YI.) 



By the death of Colonel Wardlaw-Ramsay the British 

 Ornithologists^ Union has lost an old and highly esteemed 

 member — one who filled the office of President from 1913 

 to 1918. Colonel Wardlaw-Ramsay was in his 70th year, 

 and had been seriously ill for about a month when he passed 

 away on the 25th of April, 



He was the only son of Robert Balfour Wardlaw-Ramsay 

 of Whitehill in Midlothian and Tillicoultry in Clackmannan- 

 shire, and his mother was Lady Louisa Hay, a daughter of 

 the Marquis of Tweeddaie. He elected to I'ollow a military 

 career, and in November 1872, soon after obtaining his com- 

 mission, left for India to join the Highland Light Infantry ; 

 went through the Afghan campaign as an officer of the 

 Hampshire Regiment; and eventually was Lieut. -Colonel of 

 the 7th Royal Scots. After quitting active service he became 

 Lieut. -Colonel of the Volunteer Battalion of the last-named 

 Regiment, afterwards acted as Lieut.-Colonel of its Territorial 

 Force Reserve ; and did much useful service during the late 

 war. The later years of his life were passed at Whitehill, 

 and were devoted to county affairs, in which he took an active 

 part. He w'as Chairman of the Edinburgh and East of 

 Scotland College of Agriculture, and besides closely asso- 

 ciated with charitable work. Though by nature reserved 

 in manner, he was a singularly attractive personality to 

 those who knew him intimately, was a man who lived up 

 to high ideals, and was the personification of all that was 

 honourable and best. He married a daughter of IMr. Charles 

 Swinton Hogg, by whom, as well as three sons and two 

 daughters, he is survived. 



Wardlaw-Ramsay was elected a member of the British 

 Ornithologists^ Union in 1872. From his boyhood he had 

 always been keenly interested in birds, aiid commenced 

 to contribute to ornithological literature in 1874, as will 

 be seen from the list of his various papers (so far as 



