28 FAUNA OF SHROPSHIRE. 



B.A. degree in 1839. In 1841 he and his friend Mr. 

 Solly went a fishing expedition to Norway a country 

 then almost unknown to Englishmen. This visit was 

 repeated the following year. On the death of his father 

 in 1849 he succeeded to Clungunford Hall and estate, 

 and at once began to add largely to his collection of 

 British Birds. In pursuance of this object he cultivated 

 the acquaintance of the leading ornithologists, and 

 numbered amongst his most intimate friends Mr. Gould, 

 Mr. Howard Saunders, Mr. Hancock (of Newcastle-on- 

 Tyne), and many others of that ilk, gaining much 

 valuable information from his intercourse with them, and 

 meeting them periodically at their houses, or rooms in 

 Tenterden Street. His Birds, however, still remained in 

 their small cases. In July, 1860, the museum at Clun- 

 gunford was begun, and the one side with its large cases 

 completed in 1861. The Birds, which had greatly 

 increased in number, were classified and mounted by 

 Henry Shaw. Mr. Rocke's friends in Tenterden Street 

 sent down numberless skins for selection, and the Great 

 Bustard a most beautiful specimen was offered by Mr. 

 Howard Saunders, with the remark, " Your museum is 

 the only one in the world worthy of it." The purchase 

 of the Great Auk and its egg rendered this one of the 

 most perfect private collections of British Birds in 

 existence. Every British Bird is here represented, 

 both male and female, and in many cases the young 

 also are added* Every specimen is well set up, and is 

 in perfect plumage ; the case of Falcons is unique. No 

 expense or trouble was spared to render the museum 

 perfect in every respect. To within a very short time of 

 his death Mr. Rocke was at work at his favourite study. 



