6 A. K. Fisher, In Memoriam : Thomas Mcllwratth. \^^^ 



\_ J an . 



being no demand for the skins, and the fiesh being unsuitable for 

 the table, they are not much disturbed." 



In 1866 he published in the ' Proceedings of the P^ssex Institute ' 

 (Vol. V, pp. 79-96) an annotated ' List of Birds observed near 

 Hamilton, Canada West,' which included 241 species. This list 

 was prepared in the same careful manner as his previous papers, 

 and its wide distribution brought Mr. Mcllwraith more prominently 

 to the notice of leading ornithologists in the United States, with 

 many of whom he maintained a life-long correspondence that 

 proved of mutual benefit. A few notes followed in the ' Bulletin 

 of the Nuttall Ornithological Club,' Vol. VIII, pp. 143-147, in 

 'The Auk,' Vol. I, pp. 389, 395, and in the ' Canadian Sportsman 

 and Naturalist,' Vol. Ill, pp. 198-200, 207. Finally in 1887 he 

 published his most important work, ' The Birds of Ontario.' On 

 April 2, 1885, he had read before the Hamilton Association a 

 paper entitled ' On Birds and Bird Matters ' which was most 

 enthusiastically received and the Association at once requested 

 the privilege of publishing the communication with any additions 

 which he cared to furnish. Accepting the offer he promptly pre- 

 pared the manuscript, but delayed publication so that the new 

 arrangement of the American Ornithologists' Union Check-List, 

 then in press, might be adopted. In the twenty-one years that had 

 elapsed since the previous list was prepared 61 species of birds 

 had been added to the fauna of Ontario, making a total of 302 spe- 

 cies for the Province. This publication was so highly appreci- 

 ated, and the consequent demand for copies so great, that the 

 edition was speedily exhausted and a new one was of necessity 

 planned. Thus was evolved the enlarged and revised edition of 

 the 'Birds of Ontario,' covering 317 species, which appeared in 

 1894 and formed a most fitting and lasting monument. 



A reviewer in 'The Auk' speaks of this work as follows: "It 

 is with great pleasure that we welcome this valuable handbook, 

 revised to date, much enlarged, and in a dress more befitting its 

 scientific importance and popular interest. In place of the intro- 

 ductory essay ' On Birds and Bird Matters ' of the first edition, we 

 have here a few pages on the general subject, with special refer- 

 ence to migration, followed by a dozen pages of directions as to 

 how to collect and prepare specimens for the cabinet. 



