Obituary. 307 



('Ibis/ 1904, pp. 208-213), he contributed some valuable 

 notes ou ''The Birds o£ the Island of South Triuidad/' uhich 

 was visited by the 'Discovery^ ou the 13tli of September^ 1901. 

 Subsequently ou the second expedition, by making a long 

 and arduous journey and enduring the greatest liardships, 

 he again succeeded in reaching the breeding-ground of the 

 Emperor Penguin at Cape Crozier in the coldest month of 

 the Antarctic winter — a splendid performance requiring the 

 utmost courage and enthusiasm. In this way were secured 

 the much coveted eggs at an early stage of incubation, which 

 it is lioped will throw some light on the early development 

 of the Penguins (see Geogr. Journ. vol. xxxix. 1912, p. 580). 

 When, in 1904, a Committee of Inquiry was formed to 

 investigate the subject of " Grouse Disease,^' Lord Lovat 

 (Chairman and prime mover of the scheme) was in search of 

 a suitable field-observer and physiologist. At the suggestion 

 of the writer he attended the meeting of the British Ornitho- 

 logists^ Club held at the Restaurant Frascati on the 15th of 

 March, 1905, for the purpose of meeting Wilson, who was 

 exhibiting photographic slides taken by the members of the 

 ' Discovery ' Antarctic Expedition. A friendship was at 

 once formed, Wilson's charm of manner and his quiet and 

 modest ways endearing him to all who came in contact with 

 him. As a result of this meeting he was appointed 

 "Principal Field-observer, Anatomist^ and Physiologist to 

 the Inquiry " in November, 1905, and devoted most of his 

 time to the work till the autumn of 1910, when he joined 

 the ' Terra Nova ' and sailed on his last Antarctic Expedition. 



In ' The Grouse in Health and in Disease — the final Report 

 of the Committee of Inquiry on Grouse Disease,' published 

 in 1911, Lord Lovat writes : " It is difficult to speak highly 

 enough of Dr. Wilson's services, for not only was he an 

 indefatigable worker in the field, but his ornithological 

 knowledge, his scientific training, and his artistic skill, have 

 been of the utmost value in every branch of the Inquiry .... 

 Dr. Wilson's personal qualities secured for him the willing 

 assistance alike of Local Correspondents and Scientific 

 Staff, and went far to ensure whatever success the Committee 

 has achieved." 



SER. X. — VOL. I. y 



