THE LUTE REGINALD BOSWORTH SMITH, M.fi. 



The Dorset Field Club has, in common A^•ith the whole 

 County, suffered a grievous loss in the death of Reginald 

 Bosworth Smith, A just appreciation of his life and character 

 is a task which only one of his OAvn generation, one whose 

 knowledge of him had been close and intimate throughout life, 

 could adequately perform. Yet to have known him as my 

 nearest neighbour and ever warm-hearted friend for ten years 

 past, may justify me in acceding to the Editor's suggestion, that 

 I should write a brief sketch of his remarkable and attractive 

 personality. 



It is, perhaps, hardly necessary to remind the readers of these 

 Proceedings that he was a son of Canon Reginald Smith, and was 

 born (June 28th, 1839), at West Stafford Rector}-, the Old 

 Thatched Rectory as it will henceforth be known to all readers 

 of his delightful book on birds. In 1849 he went to Milton 

 Abbas Grammar School, of which the Rev. James Penny, Avho 

 still survives him, was headmaster. On the first occasion on 

 which I ever met him at Bingham's Melcombe, this venerable 

 preceptor was there too, and very touching it was to note the 

 pride of the old man in his brilliant and successful pupil, 

 and the close ties of affection and happy memories which 

 still united them. From Blandford he passed to Marlborough, 



