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Index-Catalogue of the Birds in the Hancock Collection, presented 

 by deed of gift, 1st Nov., 1883, to the Trustees of the Natural 

 History Society of Northumberland, Durham and Newcastle- 

 upon-Tyne, by John Hancock. By Richard Howse, M.A. 



This unique and unrivalled Collection of British Birds, pre- 

 served by John Hancock and presented by him to the Museum 

 of the Natural History Society, and now known as the "Han- 

 cock Collection," was made, as nearly as can be ascertained 

 between the years 1828 and 1890, close up to the time of Mr. 

 Hancock's death. It will be seen by the notes appended to 

 each Bird in the Catalogue that the Collection was acquired by 

 Mr. Hancock's own personal collecting during his long life — by 

 gifts from his friends and correspondents — by exchange with 

 other collectors and, in some instances, by purchase. 



It was about the former period (1828) that Mr. Hancock 

 began to stuff Birds, some examples, (as the Golden Plover and 

 others) of that date, being still shewn in the Museum. From 

 his early years Mr. Hancock was a personal friend and acquaint- 

 ance of Thomas Bewick, the celebrated wood engraver,* whose 

 admirable woodcuts adorn his work on British Birds — and also 

 of R. R. Wingate, who was at that time a friend of Bewick's 

 and the best Bird-stuffer in Newcastle. Without doubt, the 

 intimacy and influence of these lovers of Birds had much to do 

 in fostering and increasing Hancock's enthusiasm in these early 

 years of his life and studies. But he soon departed from the 

 methods and practices of the early Bird-stuffers and gradually 

 developed a plan of his own based essentially on a study of the 

 anatomy and habits of the Birds, that one after another came 

 under his notice, assisted by the strong artistic power which 

 was inbred and natural to him and which in course of time 

 shewed itself in the unrivalled manner that most or all of his 

 groups of Birds are set up. 



* Most of the original Drawings of these Engravings adorn the walla of the front 

 room Gallery of the Museum. 



