IX. 



never grudged either trouble or expense in connection with 

 birds, whether to obtain specimens, to set them up when 

 obtained, or to illustrate them and describe their habits. 



Those who have had the pleasure of talking over his 

 exploits with him and his companions, such as Mr. McKenzie 

 of the Lews, " Tubby " and the other fenmen on the Broads, 

 and the Yarmouth fishermen with whom he spent weeks at a 

 time in pursuit of skuas on the fishing banks in the North 

 Sea, wild fowl in the marshes, eagles and other birds of prey 

 in the Highlands and Islands, are not likely to forget the 

 eagerness with which every chance was followed up regard- 

 less of repeated failures. Looking through his memorandum 

 books (very few of which unfortunately still exist) one 

 recognises afresh what an immense amount of labour and 

 disappointment he had to put up with in order to win the 

 successes which usually came to him in the end. 



He came to live in Brighton about 1865, and gradually 

 increased his collections, filling up room after room in his 

 private house ; till in 1874, having determined to erect a 

 suitable Museum, he acquired the property on the Dyke 

 Koad and built himself a house there with the Museum 

 almost adjoining. This building is as unique as the collec- 

 tion which it contains. Its position was chosen on the dry 

 airy hill outside the town expressly for the purpose it fulfils. 

 It was designed with the object of combining the requisite 

 light, airiness and freedom from damp and dust, without 

 which a collection cannot be properly seen or safely preserved, 

 and the result fully satisfied him and justifies his care. 



He died on the 8th February, 1890, leaving no children ; 

 and by his will gave the Museum and collection to the 

 Corporation of Brighton " on the express understanding that 

 they would not alter the interior of the cases, and that they 

 would take the same care of them as he had hitherto done." 



Shortly after his death his widow added to the 

 completeness of the collection by presenting the gunning 

 punt, a collection of guns, rifles and shooting gear, and the 

 part of her husband's library which related to Natural 

 History, together with a large number of valuable specimens 

 of birds left .uncased by her husband. 



