482 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
THE LATE CHARLES ROBERT BREE, M.D. 
On the 17th October last at Long Melford, where he had 
resided since 1881, died Dr. Charles Robert Bree, in the 76th 
year of his age. Born at Ambleside in February, 1811, he 
commenced a study of medicine at York, and subsequently 
became a student in University College, London, ultimately 
settling down as a general practitioner at Stowmarket. In 
1854 he was elected physician to the Essex and Colchester 
Hospital, and for twenty-two years continued senior physician 
to that institution, until in June, 1881, an attack of paralysis 
caused him to resign the post. 
As an author he will be best remembered by his ‘ Birds of 
Europe not observed in the British Islands.’ This work in four 
vols. royal octavo, with coloured plates, was commenced in 1859, 
and finished in 1863. Although by no means exhaustive, nor 
free from mistakes, it was a very useful book in its way, for until 
the appearance of Sharpe and Dresser’s ‘ Birds of Europe,’ in 
1871, it remained for more than ten years the only English 
general work of reference on the subject of which it treated. 
The first edition having become exhausted, the author prepared 
a second, which appeared in 1875-1876, in five vols., important 
additions having necessitated the publication of an extra volume. 
In this second edition Dr. Bree was assisted by various friends 
who, as specialists, consented to revise the proof-sheets of 
different portions of the work for him, thus helping, so far as 
the text was concerned, to make it much superior to the first 
edition. In 1872 he published a volume of some 400 pages 
entitled ‘‘ An Exposition of Fallacies in the Hypothesis of Mr. 
Darwin,” the nature of which is sufficiently indicated by the 
title. A series of articles headed ‘ Popular [Illustrations of the 
Lower Forms of Life,’ originally contributed to the Natural 
History columns of the ‘ Field,’ were afterwards collected and 
republished in book form. For many years he continued to take 
an active interest in the progress of Zoology, and from time to 
time forwarded communications for publication in the ‘ Field,’ 
the ‘ Naturalist,’ (no longer in existence), and ‘ The Zoologist.’ 
Even when struck down by paralysis, and no longer able to enjoy 
the pleasures of a country walk, his active mind found occupa- 
tion in closely observing the habits of such birds as might be 
