In Memoriam—Dr. W. M. Burman. 125 
In his later years, he served his country as a Member of 
Parliament, and on such occasions as he spoke his utterances 
had always the greatest respect of the House. When his 
multifarious duties permitted him to spend a little time at his 
home in Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire, he devoted his attention 
to his fascinating hobby—that of gardening—and even here he 
was able to make most useful contributions to scientific botany. 
Quite apart from his scientific attainments, however, will his 
death be deplored by a large circle of friends. To know him 
was to love him, and few had the greater respect of his fellow 
men than had the subject of these notes.—T.S. 
ee 
Dr. W. M. BURMAN oF WaATH-ON-DEARNE. 
ON the last day of the old year, there passed away at Grange 
over-Sands, a veteran naturalist of the Gilbert White school. 
Dr. W. M. Burman was born at Wisbech, on the 23rd June, 
1825. His father, two years later, removed to Wath, and 
there successfully built up an extensive practice in which, in 
later years, the deceased joined him, and continued after his 
death. It is interesting to note that this practice is now in the 
hands of the third generation ; the eldest and only surviving son 
of the subject of this notice, after assisting his father for some 
years, having succeeded to it on the Doctor’s retirement to 
Grange some ten years ago. 
Naturalists, like poets, are said to be born, not made; be 
that as it may, we are sure the doctor was a born naturalist. 
There is little doubt that when very young he came under 
the influence of the clergyman, who, veiling his identity under 
the initial ‘ W,’ contributed a list of the indigenous butterflies 
and moths of the district to the ‘Wath Village Magazine,’ in 
1832. Later still, he enjoyed the friendship of another resident 
entomologist, the Rev. C. H. Middleton. In these congenial 
surroundings, notwithstanding the uncertain calls of a practice 
as extensive in area as in clientele, he gained a knowledge of the 
local fauna of an almost all-embracing character. He could 
remember when the glow-worm was a common insect in the 
lanes of ‘The Queen of Villages,’ where also the marbled 
white butterfly was not uncommonly met with. Botany, 
Entomology, and Astronomy were the chief branches of science 
in which he was at home, and he was ever ready to assist 
young beginners with advice; no question, however elementary, 
but would be answered in the most kindly manner, without a 
3go7 March 1. 
