Obituary. 505 



allusions to the marvellous powers claimed by some indi- 

 viduals " who profess to identify all and every species within 

 the range of their vision, even to distinguish a Common 

 from a Lesser Kestrel at any distance when seen from a 

 passing train " ! 



An invaluable work to Students of Ornithology in these 

 Islands is Colonel Irby's ' British Birds Key-List,' which he 

 wrote in 1887-88, and a Second Edition of which appeared 

 in 1892. 



As is well known, he had exceptionally strong views on 

 the subject of what he ever described as "the needless multi- 

 plication of species," and denounced the same in no uncertain 

 language. Of this he once wrote : — " The unfortunate part 

 of ornithology, as at the present practised, is that it is chiefly 

 confined to the slaughter of birds, whose skins, when com- 

 pared and examined by table naturalists, are, upon the 

 slightest variation of plumage, made into a new species 

 without any knowledge of their habits, notes, &c." 



As a Member of the Zoological Society of London Irby took 

 a keen interest in the management of the Gardens and served 

 on the Council from 1892 to 1900. Many of the beautiful 

 Life-groups of Birds and their nests at the British Museum 

 of Natural History, Cromwell Road, were obtained by 

 Colonel Irby, some of the earliest having been taken in 

 1884. 



The present writer first made Colonel Irby's acquaintance 

 when quartered at Gibraltar in May 1877, exactly twenty- 

 eight years ago, and from that time, and indeed until within a 

 few weeks of his decease, he made numerous expeditions with 

 him in Southern Spain, as well as to many of the wilder 

 portions of the British Isles. Added to his thorough acquaint- 

 ance with all appertaining to bird-life, Colonel Irby had a 

 considerable knowledge of Lepidopterous Insects and of 

 Plants. A most interesting and amusing companion, he 

 was also a warm-hearted and staunch friend, whose quaint 

 habits and forcible sayings will long be remembered by all 

 who knew him. 



(WlLLOUGHBY Ykkxek.) 



