272 Letters, Extracts, Notices, fyc. 



those in which they were actually obtained, the arrangements 

 being in many instances copied from sketches taken on the 

 actual spots where the birds themselves were shot. In 

 making this collection Mr. Booth spared neither personal 

 trouble nor expense of any kind, and the results of his energy 

 and devotion to this one object were the finest and most 

 nearly complete collection of British Birds of this special 

 character ever yet formed. 



About 15 years ago, his house in Vernon Terrace, 

 Brighton, being too small for his increasing collection, 

 Mr. Booth purchased some freehold land on the Dyke Road, 

 and erected a residence for himself and a special building 

 for his birds. Of the latter he issued a catalogue in 1876, 

 which describes the contents of 306 cases and gives exact 

 particulars of the mode in which the specimens were ob- 

 tained *. The Museum was open to the public at a fee of 

 one shilling a head, and the proceeds from admission were 

 given to Brighton charities. 



The Booth Collection is stated to have been bequeathed 

 to the Trustees of the British Museum, but with restrictions 

 on its use which make it doubtful whether they will accept 

 the offer. Mr. Booth also issued, in numbers, between 

 the years 1881 and 1887, a well-illustrated work entitled 

 ' Rough Notes on the Birds observed during twenty-five 

 years' shooting and collecting in the British Islands/ the 

 nature of which is correctly indicated by the title. Com- 

 pleted, it forms three handsome folio volumes, the plates 

 of which, lithographed and coloured from sketches by Neale, 

 represent the specimens in the Dyke Road Museum. 



Mr. H. E. Dresser, who was well acquainted with the late 

 Mr. Booth, describes him, in his prime, as a strongly built, 

 very active and intelligent man, an excellent sportsman, and 

 one of the best field-naturalists he ever knew. A few years 

 ago Mr. Booth met with an unfortunate accident, and injured 

 his spine in a fall. This brought on partial paralysis, and 

 ultimately led to his death at the early age of 50 years. 



* ' Catalogue of the Cases of Birds in the Dyke Road Museum, 

 Brighton.' By E. T. Booth. (Brighton, 1876.) 



