In Memoriam : William Foivler. ■123 



If we ended here we should do scant justice to Canon Fowler ; 

 the man himself was finer than all his activities and interests 

 together. An individual may be a keen worker and faithful 

 student, and win his honorary canonry almost as a matter of 

 course ; he may be an enthusiastic lover of nature, and a fair 

 observer, and yet ' a dull dog ' withal. We have met many 

 such, without the touch of kindly human sympathy in their 

 nature, or a sparkle of wit and humour in their composition. 

 No one could be alongside Canon Fowler, either in his own 

 home or elsewhere, without appreciating his deep sympath}' 

 with the failings of common humanity, the truly kindly 

 geniality of his nature, and its sweet ebullition of sparkling, 

 playful fun. He had the eye, brain and sympathy which can 

 see the humourous play of the underside of daily life, as Well 

 as in its brightest moments, and respond at once, as naturally 

 as to its disillusionments, weariness and sadness. He had a 

 good memory for dialect, forms of expression, intonation of 

 voice, and those personal peculiarities of manner which, to- 

 gether, make up the sum of the individual character, which, 

 when exerted in his own kindly mood, can only produce side- 

 shaking laughter. He was one of those who think that to play 

 in earnest is as essential as to work in earnest. 



An interesting poetical letter to Canon Fowler, from his 

 friend the late Dr. Walsham How, Bishop of Wakefield, is 

 given in The Naturalist for 1897, page 307. 



E. A. W.-P. 



PHINEAS FOX LEE. 



Fortunately, it seldom falls to our lot to have to record at 

 so short an interval the deaths of two men who have worked 

 so long and persistently in the interests of Yorkshire natural 

 history as Canon W. Fowler, and ]\Ir. P. F. Lee. The north of 

 England has long been fortunate in possessing a large number 

 of amateurs in science, and the two who have just passed away 

 were typical and worthy examples. They were two of the 

 oldest members of the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union, and their 

 inborn love of nature and their enthusiasm for the subject 

 of their choice, influenced for good all with whom they came 

 in contact, and they were ever ready to encourage and guide 

 younger men along useful channels of enquiry. 



Mr. Lee was born at Dewsbury, and was the son of Mr. 

 Isaac Lee, a musician, and, adopting his father's profession, 

 became a successful teacher. His spare time was devoted to 

 botany, and when quite a young man, he interested himself 

 in the Dewsbur^^ Mechanics' Institute, one of many similar 



igiJlApril I. 



