( 38 ) 

 THE LATE MAJOR F. W. PROCTOR. 



Many of Major Proctor's ornithological friends were 

 startled some months ago by the news that he was in 

 a critical condition and that it had been found necessary 

 to amputate one of his legs, but even then few could 

 have anticipated that on June 13th he would have 

 passed away. Almost to the last he retained his keen 

 interest in oology and bird-life, and nothing gave him 

 greater pleasure than the receipt of a letter full of bird 

 news or a talk with a brother ornithologist. 



Frederic William Proctor was the son of William 

 Proctor, of Torquay. He was born in 1862, and from 

 his earliest days was deeply interested in birds. On 

 entering the Army he joined the 33rd (Duke of 

 Wellington's) Regiment and spent seven jears serving 

 in India, where he made a collection of birds. Subse- 

 quently he was for a time attached to the 3rd Battalion 

 of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, and retired with the 

 honorary rank of Major. 



In 1891 he married Hope Lake, step-daughter of Mr. 

 W. H. Pahng, of Sydney, New South Wales, and had 

 four children, three sons and one daughter, of whom 

 the two elder sons, Lieut. E. Prcctor, Royal Welsh 

 Fusiliers, and Midshipman V. W. L. Proctor (H.M.S. 

 Ajax), have already seen service for their country. 



He joined the British Ornithologists' Union in 1893, 

 and was also a frequent visitor to the British Orni- 

 thologists' Club, where from time to time he exhibited 

 some of the more interesting specimens from the fine 

 collection of eggs he was gradually amassing. In 1912 he 

 decided to part with most of the eggs which he had 

 acquired by purchase and to retain only those which he 

 had himself collected. The sale took place at Stevens's 

 Rooms on November 21st, 1912, and March 13th, 1913, 

 and created much interest, some of the eggs of the rarer 

 waders being offered for sale for the first time and 

 realising large prices. 



