1S92.J Notes and IVeivs. ^C 



he had i-eccntly resigned the position of Ciistos of tlie Imperial Museum 

 at Vienna, where for forty years he was in charge of the collections of 

 mammals and birds. He had for a long period been recognized as one of 

 the leading ornithologists of the world, and an especial authority on the 

 birds of Brazil. Although the author of a long list of minor papers and 

 essays, his best known work is doubtless the invaluable 'Zur Ornithol- 

 ogie Brasiliens,' published in parts, 1868-71, based on the collections 

 made by Johann Natterer during the years 1817 to 1S35, representing 1200 

 species and numbering over 12,000 specimens. He also published exten- 

 sively upon mammals, particularly those of Brazil, collected by Natterer. 



Captain Thomas Wright Blakiston, R. A., one of the original 

 Corresponding Members of our Union, died in San Diego, Cala., on 

 October 15, 1S91, from pneumonia. 



To ornithologists Capt. Blakiston was best known for his invaluable 

 contributions to the knowledge of the avifauna of Japan, and it is safe to 

 say that no one man has done so much towards the thorough under- 

 standing of the ornithology of that interesting country. During a sojurn 

 of twenty years in the northernmost island of Japan proper, Yezo, he 

 was enabled to give a nearly exhaustive list of the regular visitors and 

 residents of that hitherto almost entirely unknown island, introducing an 

 entirely new feature in the Japanese avifauna, viz., the Siberian, and 

 demonstrating the fact that the dividing line between the Manchurian and 

 the Siberian subregions of the Palaearctic region is formed by the Strait 

 of Tsugaru which separates Yezo from the main island. This zoogeo- 

 graphical line has justly been termed 'Blakiston's line' in recognition 

 of his valuable work. 



After having collected material for a full understanding of the zodgeo- 

 graphical position of Yezo, he in conjunction with Mr. Pryer in 1879 

 issued the first catalogue of the Birds of Japan that lays claim to an 

 approach to completeness, as the list of the 'Fauna Japonica' only com- 

 prises the birds of the extreme southern part of Japan proper. In iSSo a 

 new list was published, a revised edition of which was again printed in 

 1S82. The latter is practically the foundation of all future work in 

 Japanese ornithology. It is the 'Check List' of Japan. 



It was not only the geographical distribution pure and simple that 

 attracted his attention. With true scientific tact and accuracy he investi- 

 gated the changes of plumages, the migrations, and the habits of the birds 

 he came in contact with, and many an intricate question has been solved 

 which without his untiring energy and loving understanding would have 

 remained unsolved to this day. 



Blakiston was not a 'professional' ornithologist; he was an amateur in 

 the best sense of the word, for he was scientific in his methods and aims 

 as only few of ev^n the professionals. But he was an amateur in this 

 that his motive was a most unselfish love of truth and his science. He 

 did not pursue his studies for the 'glory' they might bring him, but in 

 order to satisfy his thirst for knowledge. Nor did he, while working out 

 the details, lose sight of their connection with the whole. Unlike most 



