Obituary. 341 



one of the Confederate States, during the northern blockade. 

 In 1870 he started business in London in the metal trade, 

 but he continued to travel extensively throughout the whole 

 of his life, and from the time when he was at school in 

 Germany he began to collect eggs and bird-skins syste- 

 matically. His collections, almost entirely of the eggs and 

 skins of Palpearctic birds (the latter about 12,000 in 

 number), were deposited in the Manchester Museum at 

 various times from 1899 onwards. Each specimen is fully 

 authenticated and adequately labelled. The care with which 

 he attended to these matters rendered his collection one of 

 the most valuable in the country. 



Dresser's first scientific paper was devoted to his " Notes 

 on the Birds of Southern Texas,'' and was published in 

 'The Ibis' in 1865. From that date until 1909 he has 

 constantly contributed papers and letters to our journal, 

 but his most important work is undoubtedly the well-known 

 ' History of the Birds of Europe, including all the species 

 inhabiting the Western Palsearctic Region.' This work was 

 commenced in 1871 in collaboration with the late Dr. R. 

 Bowdler Sharpe, but after the publication of several parts 

 Dresser continued the work alone. Eight quarto volumes 

 were issued between 1871 and 1881, illustrated with 

 633 hand-coloured plates, prepared mainly from drawings by 

 Joseph Wolf and J. C. Keulemans. A ninth volume, forming 

 a Supplement, was completed in 1895-6, and the whole forms 

 a monument of the industry and accuracy of the author. 

 Other works were as follows : — 



A Monograph of the Meropidae, or Family of Bee- 

 eaters. 1 vol. London, 1884-86. Small folio. 

 With 34 plates. 



A Monograph of the Coraciidse, or Family of Rollers. 

 1 vol. Farnborough, Kent, 1893. Small folio. 

 With 27 plates. 



Manual of Palaearctic Birds. London, 1902-1^03. 8vo. 



Eggs of the Birds of Europe. London, 1905-1910. 4to. 

 Dresser belonged to the old order of systematic ornitho- 

 logists who did not believe in subspecies or trinomials, and 



