12 Henshaw, In Memoriam: William Brewster. [j a u n 



he stood in the old farmhouse one evening after we had been recall- 

 ing past hunting experiences, and, taking from the rack his favorite 

 double-barrel, he threw it to his shoulder and wondered if, as in 

 former days, he could still cut down an old cock partridge as it flew 

 through the brush. He not only loved sport but he loved sports- 

 men, and delighted to exchange experiences with the old hunters he 

 used to meet in Maine or with the "marsh gunners" of the Atlantic 

 coast. As he advanced in years, like many other sportsmen, he 

 ceased to shoot simply because shooting necessarily involved the 

 taking of life, and this finally became impossible for him. 



When the Cambridge place became his own, on the death of his 

 father in 1886, one of his first improvements was a cat proof fence, 

 upon the construction of which he spent much time and thought. 

 This proved an effective barrier against the tabbies of the neighbor- 

 hood, and insured the safety of all birds that visited the spacious 

 garden, which included something like two acres. Soon there were 

 hosts of birds to whom were born the glad tidings of food and 

 safety awaiting them when they stopped there on their passage 

 north and south, and many of the rarer small birds of the region 

 sooner or later were noted from the windows of his study. A 

 serviceable supply of water for drinking and bathing was provided, 

 as well as berry-bearing shrubs and seed-bearing plants for food, 

 and the "Brewster Tavern" exclusively for the accommodation 

 of birds became very popular among his avian friends. 



Another important improvement was the museum, which he 

 built in 188G-1SS7, a small brick and fire-proof structure in the 

 rear of his house for the safe accommodation of his books and of 

 his growing collection of birds, and to serve as a study where he 

 afterwards did his writing. This was the home of the Nuttall Club 

 and here it held its semi-monthly meetings for many years, or until 

 his death. 



As his library increased in size and his collection of birds grew 

 the routine work demanded more and more of his time, and in 1897 

 he was so fortunate as to secure the services of Walter Deane, an old 

 and tried friend of whom he was very fond. As Assistant in Charge, 

 he was able not only to relieve Brewster of much of the museum 

 work but to materially aid him with his correspondence. He con- 

 tinued to assist him until 1907. 



