MEMOIR. XXIU 



thence visited the now well-known Osprey's nest (Plate H) in that 

 county, which fortunately is still one of the few remaining in 

 Scotland, besides one of the equally scarce haunts of the Crested 

 Titmouse (§ lOGO) and a few other places of interest. This tonr 

 finished, Wollcy again took up his abode in London, being admitted 

 a pupil of the lately opened St. Mary's Hospital, of which his old 

 friend and neighbour. Dr. Sibson of Nottingham, had become 

 House-Physician, and in London he continued to reside until the 

 spring of 1853. Daring all this time he remained thoroughly 

 devoted to the object which, as I have said, he had most at heart, 

 while by no means unmindful of his former literary researches, now 

 extended to include investigations relative to the history of AIca 

 im2}ennis. He also formed the acquaintance of many other naturalists, 

 with whom his peculiarly quiet manner and unassuming demeanour 

 speedily rendered him deservedly popular. I may be excused for 

 saying that it was not very long after he returned to live in London 

 that I first became personally known to him, for while paying a 

 short visit to Cambridge he called on me in my rooms there on 

 Sunday, the 26th of October, 1851. We had frequently exchanged 

 letters for some three years, our correspondence beginning by his 

 writing to me about some discoloured Woodpeckers' eggs (§ G08) 

 which I had recorded in 'The Zoologist' for 1818 (pp. 2229, 2301), 

 and from the time of our meeting the acquaintance soon ripened 

 into a friendship that continued to the end of his life. Towards the 



right of the line. As I was examining the cairn I saw a bird fly to it and settle, 

 and I could distinguish it as it sat. Handing the glass to C, he saw the pole 

 on it ; but afterwards he could not see the pole, and he thought it was an effect of 

 the sun. The snow on the top of the mountain and a very clear piece of white 

 sky beyond made a small object very distinct, and as I looked again I once more 

 saw the bird fly up and settle again on the cairn. C. saw that the object appeared 

 to have moved, and he presently exclaimed, ' I'll bet a thousand pounds it's an 

 Eagle.' lie was most strenuous in his declaration that it could be nothino- else. 

 And so I had been thoroughly convinced at first, so was Carmichael after he had 

 now seen it fly, and so was Robertson when we told him, for he says Bein 

 Starav must be at least nine miles as the crow flies from where we were and it 

 appears to be more on Black's map — a most singular occurrence, as R. savs to 

 have seen an Eagle at such a distance and in that way. We picked up four 

 recently shed Stags' horns on the grassy patches this afternoon's walk, and we saw 

 many mountain Hares of various colours — some nearly white. Edge's glass is one 

 of the late Mr. Edge's, made before 1829 by flyers of Nottingham." 



