MEMOIR. Xlii 



from exposure to the sun ^. Later in the year he was with some of 

 his Arkwright relations at Scarborough^ where, as usual, he indulged 

 his natural history pursuits, having, it would seem, on a former 

 occasion struck up a kind of friendship with Mr. Williamson, the 

 Curator of the IMuseura there. On his way homeward he paid a visit 

 to Walton Hall, being armed with an introduction from Mr. Francis 

 Sibson, of the Nottingham Hospital, which was duly delivered on the 

 21st of Septem^ber to its eccentric owner in person. The time of his 

 arrival, however, was unpropitious, for Waterton was engaged with 

 some other guests when Wolley presented himself, and next day 

 wrote most apologetically at having been able to shew him but scant 

 attention. Their interview, indeed, must have been of the briefest, 

 and Wolley apparently did not set foot in the house. 



A step more productive of result was taken by him in this year. 

 Before his return to Cambridge in October he began a catalogue of 

 the collection of Birds' eggs already formed by his brothers, especially 

 George, and himself, which was contained in a cabinet lodged in 

 " the Museum " at Beeston already mentioned. To this catalogue 

 were appended notes originally concerning only the more important 

 specimens, but gradually extended so as to include almost every one 

 as it was received, while its shell was marked, at the beginning in 

 pencil, but soon after in ink, with the number of the page of the Egg- 

 hook in which an account of it, more or less particular, was entered. 

 Thus the history of each specimen can be promptly turned up \. It 

 would seem that it was towards the end of this year (1843) that he 

 opened a correspondence with Mr. Hewitson, then bringing out the 

 second edition of his well-known work, to whom he communicated 

 Ids brother George's experience as to the breeding of the Lesser 

 Redpoll (§2226) near Rugby — Halifax in Yorkshire having been 

 previously accounted its southern limit ; but certainly he received a 



* Mr. Rowley's notes do not, indeed, state when this occurred ; but, for several 

 reasons, I believe it was in this year. 



t The cases in which, through inadvertence or some other cause, this practice 

 wa.s neglected are proportionally few ; but a modification of the plan was introduced 

 in 1S5G and afterwards continued in regard to the eggs collected for him (and after 

 his decease for myself) in Lapland — of which more presently. For these different 

 series of numbers, preceded by a letter of the alphabet, were used ; but the excellent^ 

 and indeed only satisfactory, practice of marki'iig each egg-shell in ink was strictly 

 carried out. 



