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THE "LIFE OF WILLIAM MACGILLIVRAY."^ 



Although William MacGillivray (1796-1852), the great 

 Scotch naturalist and author of the History of British Birds 

 (1837-1852), died nearly sixty years ago (in the autumn of 

 1852), the first pubHshed account of his life in book form 

 has but recently appeared. This work can, however, hardly 

 be said to have added much of interest or importance to the 

 somewhat scanty amount of information which was already 

 available regarding MacGillivray's life and writings. 



The authors of the " Life " have divided their book into 

 tliree parts. The first dealing with MacGillivray's life ; the 

 second consisting of a " scientific appreciation " of his work ; 

 and the third containing extracts from his published writings 

 "descriptive of Bird Life, of Personal Adventure for Scientific 

 Investigation, of Picturesque Scenes, etc." 



The few observations which follow must refer to the first 

 and certainly the most important portion of the book ; that 

 containing the " scientific appreciation " deals with little of 

 interest that could not have been included in the " Life," while 

 the extracts, thirty-five in number, consisting of one from his 

 Descriptions of the Eapacious Birds of Great Britain, p. 223 

 (1836) — the reference to which has been omitted — twenty-three 

 from the History of British Birds, and the remainder from the 

 Natural History of Deeside (1855), savour somewhat of the 

 nature of " padding." Mr. William MacGillivray, namesake 

 of the naturalist and author of the first part of the work, 

 had already printed for private circulation a Memorial Tribute 

 to William MacGillivray in 1901, in connection with the erec- 

 tion of memorials to the great ornithologist in Edinburgh and 

 Aberdeen. 



Much of the information in the " Memorial Tribute " 

 is incorporated in the volume now under review, and Mr. 

 MacGillivray has also had access to two of the journals kept 

 by the naturalist, which will be presently referred to. 

 Although the " Life " by no means supplies the details which 

 the many admirers of MacGillivray had hoped for, it must 



* Life of / William MacGillivray, / M.A., LL.D., F.R.S.E. ; Ornitho- 

 logist ; professor of / natural history, Marisehal College and / University, 

 Aberdeen / by William MacGillivray, W.S. / author of "Rob Lindsay 

 and his school " etc. / with a scientific appreciation / by / Arthur 

 Thomson / Regius professor of natural history, Aberdeen University / 

 with illustrations / " in the eye of Nature he has lived " / London / 

 John Murray, Albemarle Street, W. / 1910. 



1 Vol. 8vo. pp. X + pp. 222 + 12 plates —10s. 6d. net. 



