CHAPTER VII 



Tributes to Knowledge, Kindness, and 

 Sympathies 



His own written words perhaps bring out more faithfully 

 than any outside tribute could, what manner of man this 

 naturalist was. 



And yet there are claims, the claim of long acquaint- 

 ance really to know, of distinguished attainment fairly to 

 judge, which cannot be disobeyed, but rather gratefully 

 allowed. And more : happy as Lord Lilford would 

 have been that what he wrote on birds should be 

 put within the reach of any who shared his love for 

 that study, a greater happiness would have been for 

 him in this, namely, the appreciation of his lifelong 

 work by men whose opinion he especially respected, 

 as of himself by men whom the years had made 

 him love. 



The following letters were written to the Hon. Mrs. 

 Drewitt, sister to Lord Lilford, shortly after his 



death. 



247 



