272 The Great Auk. [Sess. 



In iiWemortam. 



Since this paper was prepared for publication the writer 

 has received the sad intelligence of the death of " The Father 

 of Garefowl History," Professor J. Japetus S. Steenstrup, 

 Doctor of Philosophy and Medicine, and Professor of Zoology 

 in tlie Royal University, Copenhagen. This great zoolgoist 

 was born at Vang, in Norway, on 8th March 1813, and died 

 at Copenhagen on 20th June 1897, at the ripe age of 84. 

 His name will probably be best known to future generations for 

 his wonderful discoveries in connection with hermaphroditism 

 in nature, alternation of generations, &c. 



As a correspondent he was kind and generous to a degree, 

 affording information and writing long letters, with quotations 

 and references which must have required careful study. In 

 failing health correspondence of this kind was written, and as 

 the recipient of such letters I pay my tribute of respect to 

 his memory by placing his portrait at the commencement of 

 this paper, with the consent of his family. 



Professor Steenstrup's great attainments as a scientist did 

 not go unrewarded, as he was made a Danish Counsellor of 

 State, and was decorated with the Grand Cross of the Order 

 of Daneborg and the Silver Cross of the same Order, and also 

 received decorations from a number of foreign Governments, 

 and was elected a member of many learned societies. 



Among the naturalists whose names are closely associated 

 with the Great Auk, the following have died since the be- 

 ginning of this decade : — 



Mr John Hancock, of Newcastle - upon - Tyne, who was 

 well known as a naturalist and taxidermist. The museum 

 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne is indebted to him for his splendid 

 donations of specimens. He was born in 1806, and died 11th 

 October 1890, aged 84. 



Alderman K. Champley, who was twice Mayor of Scar- 

 borough, died suddenly on 29th January 1895, aged 65. He 

 possessed the most extensive collection of Great Auk eggs in 

 the world, and these still remain in the hands of his daughter. 

 He was a kind correspondent, and at all times enthusiastic 

 about everything appertaining to the Great Auk. At one 



