X MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR. 



and those who enjoyed his society on such occasions can testify to- 

 the kindly, genial nature, and unfailing flow of humour, which, 

 added to his intuitive powers of observation, rendered him such a 

 delightful companion, and endeared him to all who enjoyed his 

 friendship. 



A series of domestic bereavements, commencing in 1862, 

 added to acute personal suffering, clouded the latter years of his 

 life, and rather suddenly on the 18th of August, 1888, he passed 

 away, regretted by all who knew him. 



Although Mr. Stevenson showed great interest in the charities- 

 of the city, and served the office of sheriff in 1875, he never took 

 an active part in municipal affairs, and all public acts were repug- 

 nant to his retiring disposition.* His chief pleasure was derived 

 from his aviary and collection of local birds, and, from his large and 

 wide-spread correspondence, he possessed unusual opportunities of 

 acquiring rare specimens, which from time to time occurred. He 

 thus formed such a series of Norfolk birds, chosen with the 

 greatest judgment to illustrate the various states of plumage 

 incidental to age, sex, and season, as probably was not exceeded, 

 viewed as a working collection, by any in the county. Added to- 

 this, he possessed an excellent library of modern ornithological 

 works, and these, both birds and books, as well as his varied and 

 extensive experience, it at all times afforded him the greatest 

 pleasure to place at the disposal of any real student of orni- 

 thology who sought his ready aid. 



On September 12th, 1887, on leaving the house in Unthank's 

 Road, Norwich, which he had so long occupied, the greater part 

 both of his birds and books were disposed of by auction, many of 

 the principal rarities being acquired for the Norfolk and Norwich 

 Museum ; and on March 21st and 22nd, 1889, after his death, 

 the remainder of the collection was dispersed by the same means. 



Of the large number of contributions to the ornithology of 

 his county from Mr. Stevenson's pen the greater number appeared 

 in the "Zoologist," his first communication, dated June 25th, 1853, 

 being on some " Unknown Eggs lately found in the neighbour- 

 hood of Norwich," which appeared in the volume of that journal 

 for 1853 (p. 3981) ; from that time he kept up an almost unbroken 

 record till September, 1885, when his last " Ornithological Notes- 



* Professor Newton reminds me, in proof of this, that he could not 

 even be induced to read his own admirable paper on the " Bustard in 

 Norfolk," in Section D, at the meeting of the British Association at 

 Norwich ; but when necessity required it he could speak fluently, and with 

 telling effect, an instance of which will be found in a speech made in the 

 Council Chamber on his retiring from the office of Sheriff, on November 

 9th, 1876. 



