8 Philip Gosse—Birds of the Balearic Islands


Possessed of a wonderful love of Nature, due in the first place, as

she herself has told us, to the early teaching of her mother, and endowed

with a gentle manner which speedily gained the confidence of wild

creatures, she stood in the first rank of lady aviculturists. Her first

paper seems to have been written about her Shamah, and was printed

in the Magazine for June, 1899 ; this was followed by others on Parrots

and Parrakeets, Finches and Waxbills, Cranes and Quails, to mention

only a few of the subjects utilized. Her favourite group of birds were

the Doves and Pigeons, of which probably no other private person

has kept more species, and most of her writings deal with these birds.

In 1911 she wrote a little book entitled My Foreign Doves and Pigeons,

in which some forty species are described, all of which she had kept;

this is largely illustrated by many excellent photographs, which she

herself took for the purpose. She gained six of the Society’s Medals

for breeding the Lavender Finch, Orange-cheeked Waxbill, Zenaida,

White-fronted, Rufous, and Solitary Doves.


Miss Alderson was always most kind and anxious to help others.

To give but one instance during the War, she offered to look after the

birds of any one who was away on National Service ; she had a very

large circle of correspondents among those whom she had so freely

aided with her extensive knowledge of bird matters. All those who

had the privilege of knowing her personally will sincerely mourn the

loss of a true friend, and will always cherish the memory of her example

as a great inspiration. The world is indeed the poorer without her

presence, for surely can it be said that she spent her life in doing good

to others.


T. H. Newman.



NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF THE

BALEARIC ISLANDS

By Philip Gosse, M.B.O.U.


[Continued from the December Number, p. 245.)


*Canluelis carduelis .—The Goldfinch is, perhaps, the commonest

bird in Mallorca. The woods and meadows abound with them ; the

same applies to Iviza and Formentera. I have been unable to determine



