70 BRITISH BIRDS. 



diverting thing " (Diary of John Evelyn, Vol. II., p. 178). 

 Walter Charleton, who, like so many of the early writers 

 on natural history, was by profession a physician, was 

 born on February 2nd, 1619, and was the son of the 

 rector of Shepton Mallet in Somerset. He was educated 

 at home and entered Magdalen Hall, Oxford, when he 

 was 16 years of age. His tutor was Dr. Wilkins (1614-72), 

 whose influence is said to be apparent through- 

 out Char let on 's writings. At the early age of 22 

 Charleton received the degree of M.D., and in the same 

 year was appointed physician to Charles I., when that 

 monarch was visiting Oxford, an appointment which 

 may be regarded as a mark of favour towards the 

 University, rather than as a proof of Charleton's pro- 

 fessional skill, as the illustrious WiUiam Harvey was 

 then the actual royal attendant. In 1650, Charleton 

 seems to have settled in London. He remained true 

 to the royal cause during the Commonwealth, and still 

 retained his nominal appointment as physician to the 

 exiled king. During some part of this period Charleton 

 was residing in Russell Street, Covent Garden. At the 

 Restoration he was continued in his office. He joined the 

 Royal Society in 1662, being one of the first elected 

 Fellows, and in Januaiy, 1676, he became a Fellow of the 

 College of Physicians. Between 1660-92 he pubhshed a 

 large number of works, the most notable of which was 

 entitled Chorea Gigantum (1663), a treatise intended to 

 prove that Stonehenge was erected by the Danes and 

 used as a royal coronation -place. He resided for some 

 time at Nantwich, but returned eventually to London 

 and died there in April, 1707. 



The two portraits of Charleton here reproduced are 

 found in his works. Immortality of the Human Soul (1657), 

 and Inquiries into Human Nature (1680). The original 

 of the latter hangs in the Royal College of Physicians. 



Charleton was a most voluminous writer, no fewer 

 than twenty-nine printed works being attributed to him 

 besides MSS. in the British Museum. 



